Doctors are seeing a higher number of patients whose health treatment has deteriorated
Doctors are seeing a higher number of patients whose health treatment has deteriorated
The post-COVID trend of many people seeking an “immunity boost and a healthy glow” at wellness centers has doctors worried about the quick-cures that these centers promise.
Since these remedies to “look good and feel fresh” have been so well packaged by the centers that it has started gaining traction and attracting customers in large numbers, doctors have started visiting these centers. has warned against making a beeline, confirming that they are “magical remedies” related to the problem being seen by patients.
What is worrying is that many of these services are now available at home. “So basically invasive health procedures are done without an infrastructure of trained doctors and adequate equipment and security back up,” he warned.
Popular treatments such as IV drips are claimed to contain essential vitamins and nutrients that are rapidly absorbed by the body and give quick results, vampire facials, frequent peels, etc.
Dr. Amit Bangia, Associate Director, Dermatology, Asian Hospital pointed out that even though the COVID-19 pandemic is receding, the post-COVID-19 symptoms remain. Fatigue, lethargy are among the most visible symptoms. The increased screen time during the pandemic has also caused premature aging. This along with lack of exercise, poor skincare routine, use of steroids to treat COVID-19 is pushing people into wellness and skincare clinics.
Speaking about the side effects, he said that there are a lot of quick fixes currently in the market which are done without adequate checks and balances.
“We are mistaking patients with complaints about these cases. Take for example a very popular treatment – the vampire facial. This involves using the customers’ own blood which is extracted and mixed with other nutrients and used in the process. But when introduced by untrained and unqualified professionals who neither understand the skin nor the sterility, problems and infections associated with it will surely be noticed,” he said.
sales of complementary medicines
Chemists also say supplements aimed at helping people cope with stress, sleep, anxiety and hair loss are flying off the shelves. “After COVID-19, there are no days gone by of taking vitamin E, B, C and D supplements, using kitchen and alternative health aids, or going by the old wisdom of eating-and-going-exercise and keeping stress at bay prescriptions . To make the same appeal. We have seen a steady and growing market for supplements,” said a popular chemist from central Delhi.
“Everyone wants results and they want it quick. So what could be better than the pill or IV drip? These should not be treated as walk-in, on-demand procedures as each has its own drawbacks. From informing patients, advising about the procedure and informing them in advance about the complications of care and benefits of treatment and the cost involved, proper protocols have to be followed. We find cases where patients come in with side-effects of poor procedures done by people who are not qualified and equipment that is not standardized. Quality control is an important factor in this area. Looking and feeling good should be achieved in a safe, consistent manner,” said Dr Nivedita Dadu, dermatologist.
Concerned about this, the Delhi Medical Council earlier this month took out a public notice (against hair transplant salons etc – a more invasive procedure) warning that those performing high-tech procedures could be trained without adequate people and infrastructure. Requires the expertise and skills of a professional. would invite legal action. “This is following a case of death of a person after hair-transplant surgery in Delhi,” said Dr. Girish Tyagi, Registrar, Delhi Medical Council.
Dr. Dinesh Kumar Devraj, General Secretary, Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists and Leprologists (IADVL) said that one of the major issues they are facing is whether patients are over-promised or under-believed. It is given that unrealistic expectations will be met.
“COVID has left behind many issues. Rapid and increased hair fall, chronic fatigue, weight gain after initial loss are the most common issues. So then tagging invasive medical procedures as “wellness or salon service” does a lot of harm to patients. Procedures that are not approved, procedures not performed by qualified trained professionals, procedures not performed under sterile, strict aseptic controlled conditions without following proper protocols or SOPs are a problem,” he said.
The popular wellness clinic, speaking about concern among doctors, said that “the highest standards of patient care and training are offered.” “There is no question of laxity and we provide counselling, assessment, recovery support, trained professionals and best equipment in the market,” said an employee of one such clinic in central Delhi.
The total wellness market in India is estimated at ₹490 billion (by some estimates) and wellness services alone comprise 40% of this market. The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, a non-governmental trade association and advocacy group in India, notes that the wellness industry in India has grown rapidly from its initial unstructured beginning in the early 1990s to a broader ecosystem today. Has happened.
It said that the government is facing challenges mainly due to unorganized health centres. “While enforcement of controls in the unorganized sector is difficult, it is difficult to implement a control mechanism for regular monitoring and audit of unorganized players,” it notes.
It added that barriers to creating awareness among consumers about the benefits and safety of compliance and accredited centers add to the problem.