Closure of an Obesity Treatment Center in Egypt Run by a Fake Doctor

In an important step reflecting the Egyptian authorities' response to the phenomenon of fake doctors, the Egyptian Ministry of Health announced today, Thursday, September 11, the closure of an obesity treatment center in the Al-Matariya area of Dakahlia Governorate, after discovering that it was practicing medical work without a license.

The official spokesperson for the Ministry of Health Hossam Abdel Ghaffar stated that the center was managed by a woman who holds a Bachelor of Arts degree, who impersonated a practicing doctor in the field of treatment, as she used unlicensed medical devices such as an electrical stimulation device, in violation of the Medical Facilities Regulation Law No. 153 of 2004.

In another development, the head of the Central Administration for Non-Governmental Therapeutic Institutions Hisham Zaki confirmed that the center was sealed and a report was filed regarding the incident at the Al-Matariya Police Station.

He also warned Zaki citizens to verify the licenses of medical centers and their staff before receiving any type of treatment.

This incident comes after another case that sparked widespread controversy in Egypt, where an engineer was arrested for impersonating a cosmetic doctor and performing cosmetic surgeries on celebrities at a medical center in Nasr City, east of Cairo.

The accused had promoted her center through social media, claiming to be a licensed cosmetic doctor, and it was revealed that she was not qualified to work in this field.

It is worth noting that the Egyptian authorities have made intensive efforts in recent years to pursue fake doctors who impersonated practicing physicians and provided medical services to citizens for years.

Security forces have managed to apprehend many of these doctors in various governorates, such as Fayoum, Qena, Sharqia, Alexandria, and Cairo.

Unlicensed addiction treatment centers run by fake medical teams have also been seized.

The Egyptian Ministry of Health continues its efforts to combat this phenomenon, urging citizens to ensure the licensing of any medical center or clinic before seeking treatment or undergoing any medical procedure, in order to protect their health and safety.