News

Oct 08, 2023

Health Ministry closes chain of dangerous beauty clinics

The Ministry of Health has closed down all 11 branches of the S88 Beauty Clinic chain in Phnom Penh and the provinces after discovering the business was unlicensed and offering hazardous services to

The Ministry of Health has closed down all 11 branches of the S88 Beauty Clinic chain in Phnom Penh and the provinces after discovering the business was unlicensed and offering hazardous services to clients.

Over the weekend one customer at the clinic suffered serious complications and was rushed to hospital for emergency treatment.

The Ministry said in a statement on Saturday that the owner of the beauty clinic business failed to comply with technical requirements and violated correct procedures and conditions for opening, operating and relocating new branches of its clinics.

The beauty clinic chain opened several branches, none of them with permission from the Ministry of Health.

The Health Ministry uncovered the irregularities after a client, 40-year-old Chea Sothim, wife of comedian Cham Chanra known as “Peakmi”, experienced a serious health problem. She was rushed to hospital Saturday after receiving an intravenous injection of a “skin-whitening serum” at S88 Beauty Clinic located in Phsar Thmei III commune, Daun Penh district of Phnom Penh.

The woman reported that she developed chest tightness, shortness of breath and went to Calmette Hospital on Saturday.

Reportedly, her condition has improved as of yesterday.

The Ministry immediately closed and revoked the licence of the head office of S88 Beauty Clinic in Choam Chao III commune, Por Senchey district. City and provincial authorities cooperated to close the clinic along with 10 of its other unlicensed locations.

The various branches of the S88 Beauty Clinic are located in Daun Penh, Chamkar Mon, Sen Sok, Tuol Kork and Dangkor districts of Phnom Penh, as well as in the provinces of Preah Sihanouk, Kampot, Kampong Cham, Siem Reap and Battambang.

The Ministry added, “The Ministry of Health and the Capital and Provincial Administrations are trying to identify any other unknown branches and we will take legal action in accordance with the law.”

To protect the well-being of people from the potential dangers of beauty services, the Ministry requires all cosmetic, surgical and beauty service companies to apply for proper permits from the ministry.

Permits are issued by the Health Ministry only if the health service business meets all the standards required by inspections for correct technical conditions on the premises. Permits also require that the business meets relevant laws and regulations guaranteeing the quality, efficiency and safety of health services.

Dr Quach Mengly, a well-known public health expert, said that Cambodia faces a problem of illegal beauty service providers along with some general health clinic services. Too many clinics are staffed by unskilled workers and are unlicensed.

He added that the provision of beauty and general health services is based on clearly demonstrable skills and educational qualifications. Therefore, licensing must be provided with the utmost strictness and care. If any clinic does not fulfill all the correct conditions, its services can cause serious harm.

Dr Mengly said that he has seen similar incidents in the past. Service providers often operate without educated skills or correct licensing. They are permitted to run their business by authorities who do not enforce regulations, “with one-eye closed.”

“Before opening a business, any service or clinic must have proper permissions,” he said. “When there is permission, it means authorities agree that it can be done.

“Sometimes, even though the business owner is a medical practitioner with a certificate of competency, he or she does not provide the service himself, but instead employs unskilled staff to do the job for him.”

“When this happens we always see adverse reactions and life-threatening issues,” he said.

PM gifts flower tree for ‘China-Cambodia Friendship Garden’

Koh Kong suspends visits to eco-tourist sites due to rains

Khmer Times is now available on iPhone and Android. Download the app and keep up with real time news from Cambodia and the world.

Understanding the U.S. Indo-Pacific Strategy is crucial for countries like Cambodia, which find themselves at the crossroads of geopolitical interests and regional dynamics.

On 17 July, nearly one year after it was signed in Istanbul, Russia decided to not renew the Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI) that allows Ukraine to export agricultural goods to global markets.

JAPAN was the first nation to engage Asean, albeit in the innocuous form of a forum on synthetic rubber in 1973.

New Delhi resident Meenakshi Gupta is blind from birth. Every morning, she joins thousands of commuters on the Delhi metro and travels 90 minutes to a hospital where she starts another day of saving lives.

“The Falcon” set a cracking pace across a dusty field in Tboung Khmum, in the east of Cambodia, before stopping and pointing to the dirt at his feet.

If you suffer from megalophobia, an intense fear of large objects, you should stay away from the theatre next week.

We have The Simpsons,South Park and Family Guy at the top of the scale when it comes to animated series with controversial content and violence.

Siem Reap’s 2020 arts and lifestyle coverage kicked off the year on an optimistic note that, with the wisdom of hindsight, turned out to be somewhat ironic.

Because our baby is now at the centre of our life, it has been mentally challenging since even getting a good night’s sleep or a decent meal has suddenly become a real task.