Fake cosmetic clinic shut down in Najaf, two arrested for unlicensed medical activity
NAJAF — Iraqi authorities shut down an unlicensed cosmetic clinic in the Al-Adala neighborhood of Najaf and arrested two people, including a man accused of impersonating a cosmetic specialist, the Iraqi Doctors Syndicate said Sunday.
The operation was carried out jointly by the syndicate’s Najaf branch, the National Security Service, and the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime under a judicial warrant. A woman working with the suspect, who held no medical qualifications, was also detained.
According to the syndicate, the team discovered a “fake cosmetic clinic conducting unauthorized medical activity in Najaf governorate.” Authorities seized large quantities of unlicensed drugs, cosmetic materials, and surgical tools allegedly used in illegal procedures.
The suspect had been performing operations at a salon called “Viora,” the statement said. Both individuals were referred to the investigative judge for organized crime to begin legal proceedings.
The syndicate described the closure as part of ongoing efforts “to pursue and hold accountable those who violate the law, especially individuals who endanger public health through illegal medical practices.”
This is not the first such case in Najaf. On Nov. 4, 2024, authorities shut down an unlicensed clinic in the Al-Jamia area, where a woman was posing as a doctor. Banned medications and surgical tools were seized during that operation.
In August 2024, the Iraqi Parliamentary Health and Environment Committee and the Ministry of Health launched a national task force to combat the spread of unauthorized cosmetic clinics across the country.
