Ministry of Health Orders Closure of Select Beauty Spas and Aesthetic Clinics Across the Country

The Ministry of Health has directed the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) to close all unregistered aesthetic clinics and beauty spas operating illegally.

This directive follows a comprehensive assessment of aesthetic clinics and beauty spas offering plastic surgery and invasive cosmetic procedures in Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, and Eldoret counties.

The assessment was conducted after the Ministry of Health launched an investigation into compliance with licensing and safety standards following the tragic death of a patient during a cosmetic surgery procedure.

The Ministry found that while 77% of beauty spas and aesthetic clinics were compliant, 23% still failed to meet the stipulated legal requirements.

The Ministry of Health found that some beauty spas were operating illegally without registration. Additionally, certain spas were offering invasive procedures such as microblading and micro needling without proper registration or qualified personnel.

According to the assessment, 40% of the evaluated facilities lacked essential emergency medical supplies, while 25% had inadequate infection prevention and control (IPC) measures.

The Ministry has issued the following directives:

• Facilities with inadequate IPC measures must comply with recommended standards within 30 days.
• Those lacking emergency medical provisions must establish and equip emergency trays within 60 days.
• Beauty spas have 60 days to develop and implement standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Furthermore, all beauty and medical spas are prohibited from offering or advertising invasive medical procedures unless they have been properly inspected, registered, and licensed in accordance with established norms and standards.

Following the tragic death of a patient during a plastic surgery procedure, the government is developing a comprehensive regulatory framework for invasive cosmetic procedures in beauty and medical spas to enhance public safety and compliance.

The Ministry did not assess the one facility as it remained closed for investigation. The facility came under scrutiny after a patient died during a plastic surgery procedure.