Shenzhen authorities order stop to illegal dental services, misleading ads in Hong Kong

Shenzhen health officials have demanded that private medical service providers cease unauthorized operations and marketing efforts in Hong Kong, following a report from Hong Kong police about an illegal dentist. The Public Hygiene and Health Commission of Shenzhen Municipality issued the warning a week after the arrest of a 72-year-old man on July 23 for practicing dentistry without a license at a North Point shop used by a mainland dental clinic to promote its services.

The shop advertised the clinic's services with phrases like "Hong Kong’s cheapest place for a dental check-up" and "free consultation available."

The notice from Shenzhen authorities emphasized that private dental clinics had established consultation booths in Hong Kong and allegedly provided unlicensed dental services, posing a significant risk to patient health. The notice stated that "all medical institutions and their physicians should strictly observe the boundaries of practice.

Activities conducted in Hong Kong must strictly abide by the laws and regulations of Hong Kong," and "unregistered institutions and personnel are strictly prohibited from conducting medical practice activities in Hong Kong."

Furthermore, the notice advised that service providers should review advertisements in Hong Kong, ensuring that they complied with Hong Kong laws and regulations on medical advertising. They were also instructed to avoid excessive treatments, explain all alternatives, risks, post-operative management, and related costs in detail to ensure informed consent from patients.

The Shenzhen Association for Non-Government Medical Institutions was urged to strengthen industry self-regulation, enforce lawful practice, and conduct regular medical ethics training to prevent false advertising, excessive treatment, and price fraud.

Hong Kong's Health Bureau acknowledged the issue, stating that dental services outside Hong Kong are not regulated by local laws and advising the public to carefully select providers and understand associated risks. The Hong Kong Dental Association had previously criticized mainland dental chains for their misleading advertisements and low-priced treatments, emphasizing that these ads did not comply with Hong Kong's dental professional guidelines or advertising regulations in neighboring jurisdictions.

Both the dental association and mainland industry representatives called for stronger cross-border regulatory cooperation to oversee non-local dental services advertised in Hong Kong.