Answer for Oral Question PL204

QUESTION

Yang Berhormat Awang Haji Salleh Bostaman bin Haji Zainal Abidin

YANG BERHORMAT AWANG HAJI SALLEH BOSTAMAN BIN HAJI ZAINAL ABIDIN asked the MINISTER OF HEALTH to state whether all alternative therapy treatment centres such as electric therapy, beauty treatment, dental services, with various health claims, are required to be registered and operated by qualified practitioners, and what regulatory measures are in place to protect consumers, particularly senior citizens, from misleading claims.

ANSWER

Yang Berhormat Menteri Kesihatan

Regulation of healthcare facilities and services

Healthcare facilities and services in Negara Brunei Darussalam, including medical clinics, dental clinics, radiology services, clinical laboratories and other services under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health, are regulated in accordance with the provisions of the laws and guidelines currently in force.

For alternative therapy centres, beauty treatments (beauty treatment) and other services that make claims relating to health benefits, the level of regulation depends on the type of service offered. If the services provided involve the practice of medicine or dentistry, they must be conducted by practitioners who are qualified and registered under the Ministry of Health.

Any individual or premises carrying out the practice of medicine or dentistry without authorisation may be subject to action under the relevant legal provisions.

To further strengthen the regulation of private healthcare institutions, the Ministry of Health has drafted the Private Healthcare Institutions Order and its regulations, which have been submitted to the Attorney General’s Chambers for further review. Once this legislation comes into force, all private healthcare institutions will be mandated to be registered and licensed by the Ministry of Health.

Regulation of dental services

For dental services, treatments such as braces (braces), dental veneers (veneer) and tooth whitening (tooth whitening) may only be provided by qualified dentists registered with the Brunei Medical Board. All dental services must also be conducted at registered dental clinics and operated by registered dentists.

Unauthorised dental practice may compromise patient safety and cause permanent damage to the teeth and gums. Equipment that is not cleaned using proper sterilisation methods may also increase the risk of the public being exposed to infections such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

The Ministry of Health, through the Department of Dental Services, will investigate any complaints relating to unauthorised dental practice and take appropriate action under the regulations and legislation pursuant to the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Act, Chapter 112, Section 25.

The Ministry of Health, through the Department of Pharmaceutical Services and the Department of Dental Services, has also conducted joint inspections, and appropriate action has been taken against two Beauty and Health Establishments found to possess and offer tooth whitening services to the public.

Consumer protection, particularly for senior citizens

The Ministry of Health takes seriously the issue of misleading health claims, particularly those targeting senior citizens and vulnerable consumers. Monitoring of public complaints, inspections of relevant premises and enforcement action are carried out when there are breaches of the law and/or where health claims are advertised or made.

The Health Promotion Centre and relevant services, including dental and geriatric services, continuously work together with Senior Citizens Activity Centres throughout the districts and the WARGAMAS Organisation through the Senior Citizens Health Programme to improve senior citizens’ understanding and awareness of appropriate healthcare and treatment.

Several briefing sessions have also been held with members of Senior Citizens Activity Centres, in collaboration with departments and divisions as well as Medical Officers under the Ministry of Health, to ensure that the health information provided to senior citizens is accurate in addressing the issue of misinformation.

Nevertheless, the Ministry of Health will continue to enhance efforts to deliver accurate and evidence-based health information to the public, particularly senior citizens, through various communication platforms and in collaboration with agencies and communities, to ensure that more people have access to accurate information and are not easily influenced by misleading health claims, including those disseminated through social media and WhatsApp.

Senior citizens are always advised to seek treatment from registered practitioners and report suspicious activities to the Ministry of Health or through Talian Darussalam 123.

The public is also urged to remain vigilant regarding dental services promoted through social media and to seek advice from registered dentists before undergoing any dental procedure.

The Ministry of Health will continue to work with relevant government agencies to ensure that enforcement action and consumer protection can be implemented in an integrated manner.