Unregistered beauty creams, injections banned

LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare Dr Jamal Nasir has directed for banning the use of unregistered beauty creams, injections and other such medicines besides intensifying a crackdown on unlicenced beauty parlours as well as non-qualified persons administering beauty injections.

The minister was addressing a conference of secretaries of district drugs quality control boards of Punjab as chief guest. Secretary Health, Punjab, Ali Jan Khan, DG Drugs Control Muhammad Sohail, Additional Secretary Qalandar Khan, Secretary Quality Board Dr Munawar Hayat, Azhar Jamal Salimi and others attended the conference.

The minister said that spreading diseases in the name of beauty could not be tolerated. He asked for dealing sternly with those responsible for spreading allergies and even skin cancer among the people. He directed for verifying legal status of all beauty parlours in the province and ensuring that the beauty parlours worked according to the hygiene principles. He said that only qualified skin specialists and surgeons were allowed to administer beauty injections. No non-qualified beautician could perform skin care injections.

Dr Jamal Nasir asked for preparing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for beauty parlours in consultation with the Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC). The minister said that action should be taken against those using injections other than the approved beauty injections. A strict policy will be adopted on substandard cosmetics, beauty creams, and injections, he added.

The minister said that SOPs should also be prepared for the manufacturers of cosmetic creams and licences should be issued to these manufacturers. The minister said that all beauty parlours and hair salons employees should be screened for hepatitis. He directed that secretaries of District Quality Control Boards should ensure transparent procurement of quality medicines for hospitals in their respective districts.