Regulation of Advertisements for Aesthetic Treatments

Ms Usha Chandradas asked the Minister for Health (a) whether advertisements for aesthetic treatments are regulated; (b) whether any safeguards have been or will be put in place to ensure that the public is protected from misleading advertising of aesthetic treatments by non-medical professionals, such as social media influencers; and (c) whether remedies are available for members of the public who receive aesthetic treatments from registered and unregistered service providers due to misleading advertising and who suffer loss or injury as a result.

Mr Ong Ye Kung: Aesthetic procedures by licensed healthcare providers are medical procedures, regulated under the Healthcare Services Act 2020 (HCSA). Likewise, advertising of aesthetic procedures are also regulated under the Healthcare Services (Advertisement) Regulations 2021 (HCSAR), where there are various safeguards to ensure that the advertised contents are accurate, truthful and do not induce unnecessary consumption of the healthcare services.

To illustrate, under HCSAR, non-medical professionals, including social media influencers, are not allowed to advertise any licensable healthcare services, unless they possess an HCSA licence. Anyone who advertises healthcare services without a valid licence may be liable, on conviction under HCSA, to a maximum fine of $20,000 and/or a jail term of 12 months.

Patients who have any concerns with regard to the illegal advertisements on medical aesthetic procedures can lodge a complaint with the Ministry of Health for investigations.