Crackdown on unlicensed cosmetic clinics as Health Ministry enforces safety measures
The investigation was launched after the tragic death of a patient at Omnicare Medical Limited, raising concerns over compliance with licensing and safety standards.
The Ministry of Health has urged the public to seek cosmetic and plastic surgery services only from licensed and qualified practitioners to safeguard their health and well-being. This follows an extensive inspection of aesthetic clinics, prompting the ministry to direct the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) to shut down all non-compliant facilities.
In a statement released on Friday, Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni noted that a comprehensive assessment of aesthetic clinics and beauty spas offering plastic surgery and invasive cosmetic procedures had been conducted in Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, and Eldoret.
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The investigation was launched after the tragic death of a patient at Omnicare Medical Limited, raising concerns over compliance with licensing and safety standards.
Out of the 26 aesthetic clinics assessed, 20 were found to be compliant with licensing and operational standards, while three had applied for registration and were awaiting approval.
However, three clinics were discovered to be operating illegally without proper registration.
At the same time, an inspection of 102 beauty spas revealed that seven were offering invasive procedures such as micro-blading and micro-needling without proper registration or qualified personnel.
The assessment further revealed that 40 per cent of the facilities lacked essential emergency medical supplies, while 25 per cent exhibited inadequate infection prevention and control (IPC) measures.
Omnicare Medical Limited was not assessed as it remains closed pending legal proceedings.
Following these findings, the KMPDC has been directed to immediately shut down all unregistered aesthetic clinics operating illegally. Facilities with inadequate infection prevention and control measures have been given 30 days to comply with the recommended standards. Those lacking emergency medical supplies must establish and equip emergency trays within 60 days.
To standardise and enhance patient safety, aesthetic clinics without standard operating procedures (SOPs) have been ordered to develop and implement them within 60 days.
Beauty and medical spas are strictly prohibited from offering or advertising invasive medical procedures unless they have been properly inspected, registered, and licensed.
The government is currently developing a comprehensive regulatory framework for invasive cosmetic procedures in beauty and medical spas to enhance public protection, safety, and compliance.
The Ministry of Health reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening regulations, enforcing safety measures, and ensuring that all health-related services in Kenya adhere to the highest standards.
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