TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s health authorities and medical organizations have reached new agreements to strengthen oversight of the country’s rapidly growing aesthetic medicine industry.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare plans to revise regulations governing certain medical procedures and devices, including cosmetic surgeries and laser treatments. However, some proposals had previously faced opposition from parts of the medical community, according to CNA.
Following a three-hour meeting on Wednesday, Liu Yueh-ping (劉越萍), director of the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s Department of Medical Affairs, said the two sides reached consensus on three key areas. The first expands eligibility for performing cosmetic surgery to physicians from 11 surgical specialties.
These specialties include general surgery, orthopedics, neurosurgery, plastic surgery, urology, obstetrics and gynecology, ophthalmology, otolaryngology, emergency medicine, dermatology, and family medicine. Additional specialties may be considered in the future under a phase-out clause.
The second agreement addresses doctors who perform cosmetic procedures such as laser treatments but graduated before 2019 and do not hold a specialty certificate. Those with sufficient clinical experience may continue practicing under the new system if they provide case records and complete designated training courses offered by relevant specialty societies.
The third agreement replaces the previously proposed mandatory assessment for clinics with a guidance-based certification system, emphasizing transparency and patient safety. The association and relevant medical societies will set the standards, with specific details to be finalized in future meetings.
Liu explained that the new rules are scheduled to take effect on New Year’s Day, ahead of the Lunar New Year, the peak season for cosmetic procedures. She added that the strengthened measures aim to ensure high-quality standards in Taiwan’s aesthetic medicine sector, providing domestic and international patients with safe treatment options.
