35 Aesthetic Clinics Found with Violations in Nationwide Inspection; New Taipei City Has Most with 14

CNA, Taipei, May 21 (By Reporter Shen Peng-yao) — As the scandal involving secret filming in aesthetic medicine clinics intensifies, the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) today announced the latest nationwide inspection status. So far, 720 clinics have been inspected, with 35 found in violation. New Taipei City had the most with 14, followed by Taoyuan with 6. Among them, 14 clinics have each been fined the maximum of NT$500,000 under the Medical Care Act. Following a series of secret filming incidents in aesthetic clinics, the MOHW's Department of Medical Affairs convened a meeting on May 13 and reached a four-point consensus on video recording in medical institutions. These points are: a strict ban on covert recording devices, permission for regular cameras in public areas for security purposes, recording allowed in low-privacy spaces like general consultation rooms with consent, and a general prohibition on recording in high-privacy areas such as operating rooms. Local health bureaus have launched large-scale inspections, with the first wave targeting high-privacy-risk aesthetic clinics. Liu Yu-ching, Deputy Director of the Department of Medical Affairs, explained the progress in a media telephone interview this afternoon. Based on reports from various cities and counties, a total of 720 clinics have been inspected, with 35 found in violation. The breakdown is: New Taipei City with 14 (the highest), followed by Taoyuan with 6, Kaohsiung with 5, Taipei with 3, Taichung with 3, Hsinchu City with 2, Tainan with 1, and Changhua County with 1. Liu stated that local health bureaus have already penalized 14 clinics, including 3 each in Taipei, New Taipei, and Taichung, and 5 in Kaohsiung. All were fined the maximum amount of NT$500,000 for violating Article 108 of the Medical Care Act, and most were ordered to suspend operations for six months. Liu assured the public that they can be at ease as the violating clinics have all been suspended. Liu emphasized that high-privacy-risk aesthetic clinics were the focus of the first wave of inspections, which has been completed. In the future, to maintain social stability and eradicate secret filming incidents in medical institutions, the response level will be elevated to the Executive Yuan. Related penalties and inspection results will also be announced on schedule. (Editor: Lee Hsi-chang) 1150521