Taipei City Fines 3 More Cosmetic Clinics NT$50,000 Each for Illegal Fees Amid Ongoing Hidden Camera Probe

(CNA, Reporter Yang Shu-min, Taipei, 10th) Regarding the pinhole camera incident in cosmetic clinics, the Taipei City Department of Health stated today that it is continuing its inspections and has newly found that Station Front Saint Yi Clinic, Saint Yi Clinic (Da'an), and Chlitina Clinic violated fee standards and arbitrarily established billing items, fining each NT$50,000.

The Taipei City Department of Health issued a press release noting that it is continuing its cross-departmental anti-pinhole camera inspections and administrative investigations. It newly discovered that Station Front Saint Yi Clinic, Saint Yi Clinic (Da'an), and Chlitina Clinic had violated fee standards and arbitrarily established billing items. This violates Article 22, Paragraph 2 of the Medical Care Act, and according to Article 103 of the same act, each was fined NT$50,000, for a total penalty of NT$150,000.

The Department of Health stated that in addition to the previously discovered 6 clinics, including Station Front L'AIR Clinic, which had pre-collected fees and were penalized under the Medical Care Act and the Controlled Drugs Act, as of June 9, a total of 230 clinics, beauty and slimming centers, and postpartum care institutions have been inspected on-site. A cumulative total of 9 clinics have been penalized, with total fines amounting to NT$3.26 million.

Furthermore, the Department of Health pointed out that as of June 9, there have been a total of 148 consumer disputes filed with the city government claiming refunds due to the medical privacy and secret filming incidents. In addition to sending official letters requiring the clinics to actively negotiate with the public, the Department of Health has launched an administrative investigation. If other violations of the Medical Care Act are found, penalties will be imposed. (Editor: Chang Ya-ching) 1150610