TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Health Minister Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) said the government plans to tighten oversight of high-risk cosmetic procedures by requiring clinics that perform them to undergo formal evaluations, following a series of recent safety incidents.
Shih told CNA the health ministry is drafting amendments that would place clinics conducting procedures such as bone shaving, full facelifts, and large-volume liposuction under a mandatory assessment system. These operations carry higher risks and are typically handled in hospitals with comprehensive facilities, he said.
The number of plastic surgery clinics nationwide has steadily increased, rising about 6% between 2020 and 2024, with Taipei accounting for over 200, according to Cm Media. The ministry estimates that roughly 300 to 400 clinics would fall under the proposed requirements.
The proposal, however, has drawn resistance from some in the medical community. Shih said that if physicians maintain that these surgeries can be safely performed in clinics, then the facilities should also meet standards comparable to those applied to hospitals.
The requirement would apply only to clinics performing high-risk cosmetic surgeries, and most cosmetic providers focus on non-invasive treatments such as laser procedures. “Not many are willing to perform major operations,” he said.
Shih emphasized that cosmetic clinics often charge substantial fees and that patients deserve stronger assurances of safety and quality. While the desire for aesthetic improvement is understandable, he said, elective procedures should never lead to severe or fatal outcomes.
Taiwan has required hospitals and teaching hospitals to undergo evaluations since 1988, with medical centers, regional hospitals, and local hospitals reviewed every four years. Primary-level clinics are not part of the system, and existing rules for cosmetic clinics focus mainly on equipment, which Shih said does not adequately address overall quality control.
Shih also outlined broader reforms to the hospital evaluation framework.
One proposal would extend the validity of evaluation results. While hospitals are currently reviewed on a four-year cycle, institutions with consistently strong performance may be eligible to move to a longer interval, he said.
Another reform would digitize and streamline the process. As hospitals already promote smart healthcare, Shih said much of the necessary information exists within their systems.
Evaluations should rely more on systematic data analysis rather than on-site reviewers determining inspection items on the spot. Patient experience will also be incorporated into the assessment criteria, he added.
A third proposal aims to minimize disruptions to clinical operations during evaluation periods. Shih said hospitals should not have to cut beds, close wards, or cancel staff leave solely to prepare for assessments.
Shih noted that details of the reforms remain under discussion, but the overarching principle is risk stratification.
He urged cosmetic clinics not to view the new requirements as burdensome, stressing that evaluations will be tailored to each clinic’s service scope and serve as a marker of quality. While some clinics worry that joining an evaluation system could create excessive administrative demands, Shih said these concerns are exaggerated.
