Members of several German political parties are calling for stricter regulations surrounding who is qualified to perform non-surgical cosmetic procedures. Simone Borchardt, health policy spokesperson for the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, stated in an interview with “Welt am Sonntag” that current legislation, specifically the law governing non-physician healthcare practitioners (Heilpraktikergesetz), is outdated and doesn’t adequately address modern aesthetic treatments.
A particular concern raised is the practice of allowing non-physician practitioners to administer hyaluronic acid injections, despite the potential risks associated with such procedures, particularly when performed in the facial area. Borchardt argued this practice is no longer justifiable from a patient safety perspective. She also advocated for increased monitoring of advertising for these procedures on social media platforms, asserting that aggressive marketing by individuals lacking demonstrable qualifications should not be permitted. Offering treatments like Botox and hyaluronic acid injections without appropriate training, she stated, is both illegal and potentially harmful to patients and demands stricter enforcement of existing regulations and harsher penalties for violations.
Janosch Dahmen, health spokesperson for the Green Party, echoed these concerns, calling for a fundamental reform of both the Patient Rights Act and the law governing non-physician healthcare practitioners. He emphasized the need to protect legitimate medical practice from the influence of social media influencers, questionable practices and misleading health claims.
Julia-Christina Stange, health spokesperson for the Left Party, shares this view, stressing that all medical procedures carry inherent risks. She proposed stricter regulation of health-related content on social media platforms as a means to combat misuse and the spread of misinformation.