Dentists not qualified to perform Aesthetic Procedures: Delhi Medical Council
New Delhi: While responding to a Right to Information (RTI) application, the Delhi Medical Council (DMC) has clarified that dentist(s) are not qualified to do aesthetic procedures like Botox or Acne treatment.
Further, the Council specified that in order to practice allopathy in Delhi, a person should have an M.B.B.S degree and a registration with the council. Any person, not having the requisite medical qualification and council registration is liable to be prosecuted, the Medical Council in the National capital further mentioned.
The RTI, a copy of which is with Medical Dialogues team, was filed on 30 October, 2024 and it sought clarification from the medical council regarding the eligibility of dentists to perform such aesthetic procedures.
Responding to the RTI filed by Dr Aman Kaushik, a NEET PG aspirant, DMC on 20.11.2024 mentioned, "With reference to your application received in this office on 30. October, 2024, on the subject noted above; based on the records available in the office of the Delhi Medical, it is informed that the dentist(s) is/are not qualified to do medical procedure like Botox, treating acne etc."
"It is further informed that for practicing allopathic system of medicine in the NCT of Delhi, a person should hold recognized medical qualification as per the Schedule to the NMC Act and should be registered with the Delhi Medical Council; hence, a person being a holder of M.B.B.S. qualification and registered with the Delhi Medical Council can practice modem scientific system of medicine (allopathy) in the NCT of Delhi," the Council added.
It further informed that any person, who is found to be practicing modem scientific system of medicine (allopathy) in the NCT of Delhi without holding any requisite medical qualification as per the Schedule to the NMC Act and not registered with the Delhi Medical Council, "is liable to be prosecuted in terms of the Section 27 of the Delhi Medical Council Act, 1997."
Section 27 of the DMC Act, 1997 states the following:
"27. False assumption of Medical Practitioner or Practitioner under this Act to be an offence.—Any person who falsely assumes that he is a medical practitioner or practitioner as defined in Clause (7) of Section 2 and practises the modern scientific system of medicine, shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment which may extend up to three years or with fine which may extend up to Rs. 20,000 or with both."
DMC in the RTI response also asked people that they may file complaint against any person, practicing modern scientific system of medicine (allopathy) in the NCT of Delhi without holding any requisite medical qualification as per Schedule to the NMC Act and not registered with Delhi Medical Council, to the Council in the following address:
"Delhi Medical Council, Ground Floor, B-Wing, Block-1, DMRC IT Park. Shastri park, New Delhi- 110053"
The complainants will have to give details of the
(a) name, description and address of the complainant
(b) the name, description and address of the individual who is found alleged to be practicing medicine without holding any requisite qualification
(c) documents in support of the complaint, if any i.e. Prescription, Letter Pad of the clinic, Visiting Card of the medical practitioner etc.
They may also send the complaint to the Anti-Quackery Cell, Directorate General of Health Services, Govt. of NCT of Delhi, Swasthya Sewa Nideshalaya Bhawan, F-17, Karkardooma, Delhi-110032"
Welcoming the medical council's response, Dr Aman Kaushik who filed the RTI, told Medical Dialogues, "There has been a decrease in the trend of aspirants opting for dermatology, as in the branch of dermatology, the issue has risen to such an extent that on social media, one can find numerous reels of unqualified practitioners including dentists who can't practice dermatology, offering aesthetic procedures and medications for acne treatments etc. Dermatologists being the specialists in this field are quite frustrated because of this. The response that I have received from the Delhi Medical Council says that dentists are not qualified to perform these aesthetic procedures such as botox and acne treatment etc. If any practitioner, who is not qualified, is found performing these procedures, they can be reported to the medical council and the anti-quackery cell."
"One of the reasons I filed the RTI is because there should be a thorough check from the anti-quackery cell from the government and strict action should be taken on this issue. There is also the need for reporting such cases by the dermatologists and due addressal by the National Medical Commission (NMC) and the Dental Council of India (DCI)," he added.
Meanwhile, sharing a copy of the RTI response on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Dr. Lakshya Mittal, the President of the United Doctors' Front Association (UDFA) wrote, "RTI reply from Delhi Medical Council #DMC confirms dentists are not qualified to perform aesthetic procedures like Botox or acne treatment. Yet, many continue to do so, misleading patients through social media."
"If any such influencer comes across, please file a complaint with the DMC or Anti-Quackery Cell. Let’s uphold ethical medical practices," he further added.
Earlier, UDFA had raised the issue of a homeopathic practitioner in Jind performing allopathic procedures including aesthetic surgeries such as Botox, Fillers etc. Back then, the association had urged the Haryana Government authorities to conduct immediate investigations and take strict action against the concerned homeopathic doctor.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that back in 2022, the National Medical Commission (NMC) had ordered a crackdown on the mushrooming practice of unethical and illegal aesthetic surgeries including hair transplant. The Apex Medical Commission had clarified at that time that only properly trained licensed registered medical practitioners (RMPs) i.e. practitioner of modern medicine are eligible for conducting such procedures.
Issuing guidelines, the Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) of NMC had recommended MCh/DNB Plastic surgery, MD/DNB Dermatology with adequate grooming in dermatological surgical procedures for conducting hair transplantation surgeries.
