Egypt Closes 5 Branches of a Prominent Aesthetics Clinic and Warns Against Unlicensed Clinics

Egypt's Ministry of Health and Population announced on Tuesday the closure of five branches of "Belladonna Laser Clinic," an aesthetics and laser treatment center, in Cairo Governorate. This decisive action comes as part of an intensified campaign by the ministry against unlicensed medical facilities that pose a threat to public health. The ministry has strongly warned citizens against dealing with any aesthetics or laser treatment clinics that lack the necessary permits.

The closures were carried out in accordance with directives from Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population, who emphasized the need to intensify oversight of private medical facilities and clinics. This increased regulatory scrutiny aims to ensure the provision of safe medical services that comply with international health standards, thereby safeguarding the health and well-being of Egyptian citizens.

Dr. Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Population, provided details on the closure operation. In a coordinated effort, five inspection committees from the Free Treatment Department in Cairo Governorate were formed. These committees worked in close cooperation with representatives from the Ministry of Interior, specifically the Supply Investigations unit, as well as the Egyptian Drug Authority. These committees simultaneously inspected the branches of "Belladonna Clinic" with the precise goal of verifying their adherence to legal licensing requirements and essential health standards, ensuring the protection of individuals visiting these clinics.

The inspections revealed serious violations that endanger patient safety. It was found that the branches were operating without legal licenses, a clear violation of regulations governing medical facilities. More alarmingly, unqualified personnel were practicing medicine illegally, which directly contradicts the Human Medicine Practice Law that sets strict conditions for practicing the profession. The use of unlicensed laser devices was also observed, posing a direct risk to patient health and safety due to unverified effectiveness or safety. The violations did not stop there, as the committees discovered unidentified medicines and injections within the clinic's branches. This raises serious concerns about the nature and safety of the substances being used, posing a significant risk to clients who could face severe complications from the use of these unapproved materials.