- Since February 2022, there has been the “Safe Clinics, Risk-Free Procedures” program that carries out permanent verifications throughout the country.
- The objective is to detect those establishments that fail to comply with health regulations and put the health and life of people who undergo aesthetic procedures at risk.
- Among the common illegal practices are personnel without academic accreditation; they lack adequate infrastructure; they fail to comply with the corresponding health regulation; poor cleaning conditions and unauthorized or expired supplies are used.
This is not a new problem but the clandestine surgical clinics they have become one of the priorities of the Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (Cofepris). Based on its director, Alejandro Svarch Pérez, these places that practice irregular aesthetic procedures endanger the integrity of people.
He reported that, through the “Safe clinics, risk-free procedures” operation, permanent verifications have been carried out since February 2022. The objective is to detect those establishments that do not comply with health regulations and put at risk the health and life of people who undergo aesthetic procedures.
“This is a priority problem for public health in our country due to the high health risk it represents.”
The most common faults and irregularities
The public servant also warned that, in these clandestine surgical clinicsoften located in private homes, have been detected irregularities. Among the most common are personnel without academic accreditation; they lack adequate infrastructure; they fail to comply with the corresponding health regulation; poor cleaning conditions and unauthorized or expired supplies are used.
To strengthen the fight against these irregular surgical clinicsthe Cofepris Sanitary Operation Commission carries out operations with federal verification personnel and carries out suspension or closure actions, avoiding risks to people’s health.
Similarly, he mentioned that During this 2022 a total of 70 establishments have been closed. While only in April and May six alleged clinics with irregularities were detected and they were the following:
- “Clínica Dr. Leónides”, total and definitive closure of the establishment, located in the Tláhuac territorial demarcation, Mexico City.
- “Daniel Malagón Montalvo General Medicine Office”, total and definitive closure, located in the Ecatepec territorial demarcation, State of Mexico.
- “Dr. Guillermo Guadarrama Maternity Sanatorium”, total and definitive closure of the surgical area, located in Colonia Centro, municipality of Tula, Hidalgo.
- “Adventist Sanatorium”, owned by the Asociación Civil y Filantrópica y Educativa AC, total and definitive closure of the emergency, transfusion and equipment sterilization areas, located in the Miguel Hidalgo territorial demarcation, Mexico City.
- “Surgical Medical Clinic”, total and definitive closure of the establishment, located in the Xochimilco territorial demarcation, Mexico City.
- “Dr. Rodolfo Guevara Estrada”, total and definitive closure of the establishment, located in the Miguel Hidalgo territorial demarcation, Mexico City.
Why are they a health hazard?
Among the risks found are surgical unit equipment in critical condition. In addition, lack of hygiene measures and not having the legal documentation for the offer of services such as: health licences, operating notices and notices from the health officer.
Cofepris maintains coordinated actions with state health authorities and other public institutions to prevent establishments that fail to comply with health regulations and represent a risk to health from continuing to operate.
This health authority reminds anyone of the importance of verifying that the establishments they go to for medical attention and/or for aesthetic purposes are formally constituted and have a health license.