The Kurdistan Dental Association (KDA) announced on Sunday that more than a dozen dental clinics have been closed in the past six months after authorities discovered they were using expired medical supplies.
According to Ahmed Dizayee, head of the KDA’s Erbil branch, the association seized approximately 800 expired items, most of which were associated with unlicensed foreign cosmetic dentists.
One of the closed clinics was operated without authorization by a Syrian citizen in a refugee camp. “This was illegal, and we closed his clinic,” Dizayee told Rudaw.
In addition to closing clinics, the association resolved several disputes between patients and dentists during the same period. Officials urged patients to report unsatisfactory treatments so that the cases can be investigated and medical expenses reimbursed, if necessary.
The KDA also fined 25 dentists and ordered 11 clinics to sign written commitments to improve their services.
The Kurdistan Dental Association (KDA), a non-governmental organization, works with international organizations such as the World Health Organization to improve oral health in the Kurdistan Region.
In a statement, the association emphasized its mission to advance dental science and education through preventive care programs, training programs, public awareness, and policy advocacy.