UPDATED GUIDELINES ON AESTHETIC PRACTICES

Introduction

1.         It was announced in July 2008 that the Academy of Medicine, Singapore (AMS), College of Family Physicians, Singapore (CFPS) and the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) shall jointly implement a framework for aesthetic practice and that the guidelines will take effect from 1 November 2008.

2.         The SMC, together with its Ethics Committee and Aesthetic Practice Oversight Committee (APOC) have reviewed and updated the Guidelines on Aesthetic Practices, which has been endorsed by the AMS and CFPS. Practitioners who are currently carrying out aesthetic procedures or who intend to do so are advised to refer to the updated guidelines for guidance with regard to List A, List B and other aesthetic procedures.

Coverletter and Updated Guidelines on Aesthetic Practices

3.         Click on the hyperlinks to download the following documents:

1. Coverletter to all fully and conditionally registered medical practitioners (28 October 2008):
2. Updated Guidelines on Aesthetic Practices (October 2008).

List A, List B and Other Aesthetic Procedures

4.         From 1 November 2008, all doctors who wish to perform any List A or List B aesthetic procedures should do so only in accordance with these guidelines, in accordance with directions of the SMC and the requirements set by the Ministry of Health (MOH).

5.         For List A procedures, doctors without a track record of the requisite number of cases done with good outcomes but have acquired a certificate (overseas or local training courses) and who wish to perform aesthetic procedures are required to submit a notification to the SMC to verify whether the certificate is a certificate of competence (COC).

6.         For List B procedures, MOH will require licensees to inform their doctors to list themselves with the SMC's APOC if their doctors wish to perform any List B aesthetic procedures in their healthcare institutions. Doctors who wish to perform List B aesthetic procedures may be subject to audit and should comply with requirements set by the SMC's APOC and MOH. Proper documentation of the indications and outcomes of the treatments and procedures are of utmost importance.

7.         Doctors who wish to perform procedures that fall within the definition of Aesthetic Practice in the guidelines but which are not found in either List A or List B will also have to list themselves with SMC (using the 'List B and other aesthetic procedures' notification form). SMC's APOC will decide on the classification of the procedure or further advise how the doctor should proceed. Doctors should not practise such procedures until they have been classified by the SMC's APOC.

Safeguarding Patients' Interests and Upholding Professional Medical Standards

8.         It is recommended that doctors who have been performing aesthetic procedures have sufficient and appropriate medical malpractice insurance to safeguard patients' interests. All registered medical practitioners are also advised to keep abreast of medical knowledge relevant to such practice and ensure that their clinical and technical skills are maintained as stated in the SMC's Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines.

Notification Forms

9.         To carry out any List A aesthetic procedure, please submit the 'List A' notification form which can be downloaded here.

10.       To carry out any List B or other aesthetic procedure, please submit the 'List B and other aesthetic procedures' notification form which can be downloaded here.

11.       All notification forms and supporting documents, if any, should be submitted to:

Chairman
Aesthetic Practice Oversight Committee
Singapore Medical Council
16 College Road #01-01
College of Medicine Building
Singapore 169854

General Enquiries

12.       You may wish to refer to the list of General Enquiriesif you need more clarification or send your enquiries to moh_smc@moh.gov.sg

General Criteria for COC Course Accreditation

13. The General Criteria Criteria for COC Course Accreditation are as follows:

i.   The course had to be conducted by a professional body or reputable organisation;

ii.  The curriculum of these courses would include basic principles, clinical applications and therapeutic guidelines / treatment guidelines or protocols, complications of procedures and the management of complications;

iii.  Learning to be in the form of hands-on or video learning;

iv. There should be an examination (e.g. in the form of Multiple Choice Questions) which should be passed prior to the issuance of the certificate; and

v.   A certificate should be conferred upon passing of the examination.

Certificate of Competence (COC) Courses (as of 20 October 2009 )

14. The list of courses / workshops are constituted as having met the general COC course criteria and considered as COC courses.

(Click here  for the list of courses / workshops.)

15. Please note that the Singapore Medical Council ('SMC') reserves the right to amend the above criteria for COC course accreditation and update the list of COC courses.

16. And as stipulated in the SMC's Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines, doctors are responsible for ensuring that they are competent and adequately trained before performing any treatment or procedure on a patient. He or she should keep abreast of medical knowledge relevant to practice and ensure that clinical and technical skills are maintained.

17. Please also note that attendance of a COC course does not automatically absolve a doctor of any responsibility in the event of a complaint or disciplinary inquiry as each complaint or disciplinary inquiry will be dealt with on a case by case basis.