Oral Maxillofacial Surgeons can perform aesthetic surgical, hair-restoration procedures limited to cranio-maxillofacial region: Health Minister
Doctor
New Delhi: Providing clarification regarding the eligibility of dentists to perform aesthetic procedures, the Union Minister of State for Health, Smt Anupriya Patel recently informed the Rajya Sabha that Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (OMFS) who undergo training under the Dental Council of India's (DCI) MDS Course Regulations, 2017 are permitted to perform aesthetic surgical procedures and selected hair-restoration procedures limited strictly to the cranio-maxillofacial region.
This clarification was offered by the Minister while responding to the queries raised by Parliament member Shri Vivek K Tankha, who asked the Minister whether the Dental Council of India (DC) permits OMFS to perform aesthetic dermatology procedures and if such permission exceeds the statutory mandate of the DCI, and whether it overlaps or conflicts with the provisions of the NMC Act, 2019.
He also asked whether this situation raises public safety or regulatory concerns, and the Government proposed to issue advisories or establish coordination mechanisms between the DCI and NMC to resolve such overlaps.
Clarifying that OMFS, who undergo MDS training under the DCI are permitted to perform aesthetic surgical procedures and select hair-restoration procedures limited strictly to the cranio-maxillofacial region, Minister Patel further added in her statement before the Rajya Sabha, "OMFS specialists receive extensive training as part of their approved and recognized postgraduate curriculum. Their domain is distinct from dermatology and general medicine, and therefore the scopes of DCI and NMC remain complementary rather than conflicting. The Government promotes inter-regulatory coordination among different statutory bodies to ensure regulatory clarity, uphold patient safety, and maintain integrity of professions regulated by the respective regulatory bodies."
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that recently, while responding to a query seeking to know whether unqualified or unregistered persons are conducting aesthetic dermatology and laser treatments across the country, Minister Patel had informed that the National Medical Commission (NMC) did not receive any complaints about any unqualified or unregistered persons performing aesthetic dermatology and laser treatments across the country.
In her response, Minister Patel had also referred to the NMC guidelines on Aesthetic Surgery and Hair Transplant Procedures, which was issued by the Commission by a letter dated 20.09.2022 to ensure patient safety and uphold ethical medical practices.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that in the notice dated 20.09.2022, NMC had provided clarification regarding the qualification of medical professionals to perform hair transplantation and aesthetic surgeries.
Regarding Hair Transplantation, NMC had stated-
"The hair transplant should preferably be undertaken only by those who have surgical grooming like formal surgical training such as MCh/DNB Plastic surgery, MD/DNB Dermatology with adequate grooming in dermatological surgical procedures. It is also noted that the above-named specialities have Hair transplantation as a core topic in their curriculum."
Regarding Aesthetic Surgeries, the Commission mentioned-
"Aesthetic Procedures should be undertaken only by those RMPs who have adequate training to do these procedures as per their curriculum. So, curriculum of various specialties should be guiding principle for all RMP's while undertaking any procedure including aesthetics & Hair transplant procedures."
In these guidelines, the Apex Medical Commission had mentioned that "Aesthetic Procedures including Hair Transplant as with any other surgical procedure, may have complications and requires skills and training in appropriate patient selection, differential diagnoses and surgical techniques and appropriate post procedure care to optimize outcomes. It is suggested that anyone who wishes to perform these procedures should be adequately knowledgeable and trained and should ensure that they have adequate infrastructure and manpower to manage any issues that may arise due to procedure performed."
Further, NMC had back then clarified that Aesthetic Procedures, including Hair Transplant are not an Emergency Surgery, and therefore, there is no case for allowing any untrained person to do it under the pretext of "Exceptional Circumstances".
