Only Qualified RMPs Can Perform Skin and Hair Treatments
The Tamil Nadu Medical Council (TNMC) has issued a public notice clarifying that only Registered Medical Practitioners (RMPs) with recognised medical qualifications and valid state registration are permitted to perform aesthetic and cosmetology procedures involving skin and hair. These include hair transplantation and laser-based aesthetic treatments. The move aims to safeguard patient safety and curb the growing number of complications arising from procedures conducted by unqualified individuals.
Based on NMC’s 2022 Regulatory Guidelines
The clarification aligns with the guidelines issued on September 20, 2022, by the National Medical Commission (NMC) through its Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB). These guidelines regulate aesthetic procedures in skin and hair, including hair transplantation. The regulatory framework was introduced to address the increasing incidence of adverse events and fatalities linked to procedures performed in unregistered or non-compliant clinical establishments.
Legal Backing Under NMC Act 2019
Citing provisions of the NMC Act, 2019, and various public notices issued by State Medical Councils, TNMC reiterated that aesthetic procedures are medical procedures and must only be conducted by qualified and registered doctors. The Council also referred to the NMC’s clarification letter dated June 13, 2025, issued to the Telangana State Medical Council, reinforcing uniform regulatory enforcement across states.
Mandatory Compliance with TN Clinical Establishments Act
TNMC directed that all such procedures must be performed only in healthcare establishments licensed under the Tamil Nadu Clinical Establishments Act (TNCEA). Clinics must adhere to applicable laws, ethical standards, and patient safety protocols. Obtaining informed consent and maintaining proper medical records are mandatory requirements under prevailing regulations.
Regular Inspections to Prevent Unethical Practices
The Council further recommended that State Health Authorities and other competent regulatory bodies conduct regular inspections of clinics offering aesthetic and cosmetology services. This measure aims to prevent unethical practices and ensure compliance with minimum standards prescribed by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) for cosmetology clinics.
Strict Action Against Illegal Practitioners
Issuing a stern warning, TNMC stated that any individual performing aesthetic procedures without recognised medical qualifications would be treated as engaging in unethical medical practice. Strict legal action will be initiated against such persons and the establishments where such procedures are conducted, in accordance with applicable laws.
NMC Specifies Eligible Qualifications
The NMC has clarified that only properly trained and licensed RMPs practising modern medicine are eligible to perform aesthetic procedures. The EMRB has recommended that hair transplantation surgeries should be conducted by specialists such as MCh/DNB Plastic Surgery or MD/DNB Dermatology professionals with adequate surgical training. The guidelines also bar untrained individuals from conducting such surgeries under the pretext of “exceptional circumstances,” as these are not emergency procedures.
Courts Call for National-Level Protocol
Earlier, the Delhi High Court highlighted concerns over medical malpractice in salons offering hair transplantation and aesthetic surgeries. A bench led by Justice Anoop Kumar Mendiratta directed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Government of NCT of Delhi to frame and implement a national-level protocol to regulate such practices and curb the mushrooming of unqualified centres.
