Punjab

Commission tightens rules for hair transplant centres

Introduces mandatory registration, licensing requirements

Qaiser Shirazi February 23, 2024

In an increasingly materialistic Indian society, men are feeling pressure to look young and presentable for fear of losing their social standing. PHOTO: AFP

RAWALPINDI:

Punjab Healthcare Commission has introduced mandatory registration and licensing requirements for hair transplant centres, alongside a ban on using the term "clinic" with beauty salons.

The commission has also prohibited the use of unregistered products categorised as medicines in all hair transplant centres and beauty salons.

According to official sources, directives have been issued, urging immediate registration and licensing for all such establishments, with a one-month timeframe for compliance.

The registration process will be conducted online through the Punjab Healthcare Commission, which will issue the registration licenses. Qualified staff is now a prerequisite for operation in hair transplant centres, beauty salons, and beauty parlours, with strict criteria for degrees and certifications.

Degrees and diplomas approved and certified by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council are mandatory, rejecting any private certificates, fake illegal degrees, or untrained staff.

Read: Expert stresses use of essential oils to prevent hair loss

These regulations apply to centres and salons performing invasive, minimally invasive, or non-invasive procedures. Non-compliance after March 15 will lead to crackdowns, sealing of establishments, and the registration of FIRs, resulting in arrests and fines.

Despite partial implementation after initial instructions and notices, it has been decided to fully enforce these laws. Unions and associations representing hair transplant centres and beauty salons have received notices, instructing them to ensure their members comply with the new regulations.

Caretaker Provincial Health Minister Dr Jamal Nasir emphasised that invasive procedures, cutting through the skin, can lead to adverse health effects and the spread of diseases.

The initiative aims at fostering a healthy Punjab, with experts warning of potential risks such as cancer, hepatitis, and skin diseases associated with these procedures. He said the commission's measures align with the broader goal of promoting public health and safety in the province.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 23^rd, 2024.