The Dark Side of the Wellness Boom: Regulating Quackery in India's Cosmetology Sector
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Social Development, Health, Social Sector Initiatives; Regulatory Bodies (NMC); Key Legislations (Clinical Establishments Act).
Mains:
General Studies Paper 2: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health; Government policies and interventions; Important aspects of governance.
General Studies Paper 4 (Ethics): Medical ethics, Consumer rights, Probity in Governance.
Key Highlights from the News
The rapidly growing beauty and wellness sector in India (wellness and cosmetology sector) is becoming a dangerous trap due to a lack of strict regulations.
Treatments and procedures performed by unqualified individuals (quackery) cause serious health problems (infections, permanent disabilities, death), huge financial losses, and psychological trauma to patients.
Many clinics operating under the names of dermatologist (skin specialist) and cosmetologist are run by individuals without the necessary medical degrees or training.
Misleading advertisements (misleading advertisements) on social media, the false notion that beauty treatments are easy and safe, and patients' ignorance worsen this problem.
Although National Medical Commission (NMC) guidelines and laws like the Clinical Establishments Act exist in states, there are major failures in their implementation (enforcement).
Experts demand that a dedicated law is needed to regulate this sector and that existing laws must be strictly enforced.
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