Ozone therapy centres in Malaysia still operating on the sly

KUALA LUMPUR — As a crackdown on ozone therapy starts in Malaysia, it’s business as usual for some centres, while others have become discreet.

Appointments could still be made through Facebook, but some businesses had become cautious and would only accept direct referrals.

Checks by the New Straits Times in Malaysia and in other parts of the country found that some centres were still operating openly.

Customers were sitting in the lobby of one outlet in Ampang, waiting for their turn to get the treatment, while a receptionist at another premises in Damansara did not hesitate to fix an appointment for next week.

The New Straits Times in Malaysia had, in an exclusive on Sunday, reported that the crackdown on unscrupulous businesses offering high-risk ozone therapy would begin on Monday. The move followed a blanket ban on the commercial use of ozone therapy machines in the country by the Malaysia Health Ministry on May 3.

Malaysia health deputy director-general S Jeyaindran told the NST that ozone therapy was now an “illegal procedure”, and those caught performing the treatment would be prosecuted.

Ozone therapy had been gaining popularity among Malaysians, who were unaware of the risks, including death from air embolism.

In Shah Alam, the looming crackdown had driven some operators underground. One had resorted to only accepting customers through direct referral.

A woman, whose handphone number was listed on the ozone therapy centre’s Facebook page, said her business had stopped accepting customers randomly following the blanket ban.

“We have to follow the law, but those who still want to do it on a personal basis can contact another number. I will text you the number,” she said.

But, when the NST contacted the number via WhatsApp, the person on the other end said he no longer offered ozone therapy because of the ban, which he claimed had also forced many operators to cease operations.

In Kuantan, many health centres had ceased offering ozone therapy.

Checks at one popular outlet in a busy part of town found that it no longer offered the therapy. A receptionist at the centre claimed that it had stopped giving the treatment for the past year.

According to a blog posting dated July 2013, which promoted the outlet’s business when it was operating under a slightly different name, the centre used to offer an “Ozone Therapy Package” for RM1,875 (S$602).

It claimed that the therapy would rid the customer of cholesterol, extra uric acid and toxins. It had also claimed that the customer would be healthier and have glowing skin.

Checks also found that one operator, who offered the therapy via Facebook, was forced to turn away customers after the ban.

The operator’s Facebook page, which was still accessible at press time, showed customers undergoing the therapy via intravenous injections in their arms.

The Facebook page stated that ozone therapy was an effective cure for various maladies, like cancer, arthritis, hepatitis, diabetes, worm and parasitic infection, wounds and other bodily injuries, heart problems and stroke, among others.

When contacted via a handphone number on the Facebook page, a woman who answered said her business had stopped offering treatment immediately after the ban announcement by Malaysia Health Minister S Subramaniam.

Declining to reveal her name and initially reluctant to speak, the woman said that over the past few months, she was forced to turn away customers who called the number for treatment.

“My business has been focusing solely on ozone therapy,” she said with a tinge of frustration, adding that she had only started her business this year.

When asked whether the ozone therapy was conducted via injections, she said her centre used intravenous injections in the customer’s arms.

She, however, declined to reveal where her centre is located.

In Melaka, the state health authorities had identified five ozone therapy centres.

Malaysia State Health Department director Ghazali Othman said the centres were not linked to any health spas or beauty centres, but were solely offering ozone therapy.

“The centres identified are neither clinics nor beauty parlours, they are just offering ozone therapy.”

In Johor Baru, a clinic, which previously offered ozone therapy, had stopped doing so immediately after the ban was announced by the Health Ministry.

A staff member said the clinic had no choice but to comply with the directive.

The clinic was a popular outlet, but now, even the signboard promoting the treatment had been taken down.

Banners and bunting on the benefits of the treatment were also nowhere to be seen. NEW STRAITS TIMES