Supamas has stepped up control over the beauty enhancement industry by ordering the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB) to coordinate with police and the Medical Council to prosecute after police arrested two individuals falsely claiming to be doctors who operated home-based Botox and filler injection services. She warned the public to carefully verify credentials before risking disfigurement due to such services.
On 8 July, Ms. Supamas Isarapakdi, Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office and overseer of the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB), along with Mr. Pradermchai Boonchuaileua, Advisor to the Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office, Dr. Patcharin Samsiripong, Secretary to the Minister, and Mr. Ronarong Phoolpipat, Secretary-General of the OCPB, followed up on the case where police arrested two individuals falsely claiming to be doctors. Their highest education was only high school and vocational certificate, but they used their experience working in clinics to open home-based beauty substance injection services, earning over 100,000 baht monthly.
Ms. Supamas said the case reflects a new risk pattern in the beauty enhancement business. Previously, efforts focused on raising standards for clinics within the system to have standard contracts and legally protect consumers. Now, the risk has shifted outside the system, with non-doctors using online channels to reach the public and offering beauty substance injections without legal oversight. She has therefore ordered the OCPB to monitor the beauty business for risks to consumer safety and coordinate by passing information to the Medical Council, Department of Health Service Support, and police to fully prosecute those falsely claiming to be doctors.
This action continues the policy of Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who prioritizes consumer safety, building upon measures Ms. Supamas previously ordered following a death at a beauty clinic in Nakhon Pathom in April. She instructed the OCPB to inspect beauty clinics nationwide, requiring all to produce legally compliant standard contracts. She also personally inspected sites in Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province, in June.
Regarding the law, anyone practicing medicine without a license from the Medical Council is liable under the Medical Profession Act B.E. 2525 (1982), Section 26, punishable by imprisonment up to three years or a fine up to 30,000 baht, or both, according to Section 43. Additionally, operating a medical facility without a license incurs penalties under the Medical Facilities Act.
The OCPB has authority over consumer protection in the beauty enhancement business as a regulated contract business. Operators must prepare and provide contracts to clients. Violations carry penalties of imprisonment up to one year or a fine up to 200,000 baht, or both.
“Injecting Botox or fillers is not a trivial matter; it requires anatomical knowledge, diagnostic skills, and emergency life-saving ability. If done by non-doctors, a low price today could mean permanent facial disfigurement or even death. I have therefore instructed the OCPB to work proactively to raise consumer protection standards and reduce risks from substandard beauty services. The public should always verify two things before receiving services: whether the doctor is licensed, which can be checked at the Medical Council's website https://checkmd.tmc.or.th/v3, and whether the facility is legally licensed. If anyone encounters false medical claims or suffers harm from beauty services, complaints can be filed via the OCPB hotline 1166, the OCPB Connect app, the website www.ocpb.go.th, or at provincial Damrongtham Centers. The OCPB will forward all leads to relevant authorities for action.”