Gov issues Prohibition Order
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The NSW Department of Health has issued IHRB and Sam Cohen with a Prohibition Order. In a nutshell: IHRB & Mr Cohen have been Ordered to stop distributing pharmacy-only or prescription medications. The NSW Chief Health Officer has also issued a public health warning. You can visit the NSW Department of Health website here and read all about it. The media release is also published below for your convenience. [NEWS FLASH: there is a new Permanent Prohibition Order slapped on IHRB. You can learn more here.]
Mind you, this has not stopped Sam Cohen from breaking the law (with or without a Prohibition Order, he has known for 40 years that he is not permitted to dispense medications, yet he has done so illegally. And, as of January 2011, he is still doing it, so go figure!). Samuel Faraj Cohen does not care about any law or any Order. IHRB has continued to disrespect the law by selling pharmacy-only products while lying to customers and ripping them off big-time. The latest news is that Sam Cohen now says that he does not put Retin-A in his minoxidil, rather he says it is vitamin A. What a gold-plated liar. Ask him to prove it! Also, he says that his secret Minoxidil formulation (which he is forbidden from selling) contains Indian Herbs (he used to say Curries). Sam Cohen now also says that the $4900 he charges is not for a product. Rather, it is for a 25-year service. The man is 74 years old, so is he going to be around at the age of 99 to honour this commitment? Besides, what is the alleged service? Zilch. Zip. Nil. There is no service. Ask him what that service is? In my opinion and my experience, as a victim, I think it’s complete and utter lies, illegal sales of products, and a 1,000,000% scam in every possible way you look at it.
Here is the media release about The Institute of Hair Regrowth and Beauty by the NSW Department of Health:
15 October 2010
Information for Clients of the Institute of Hair Regrowth and Beauty
NSW Health has issued a public health warning following the seizure of over-the-counter and prescription drugs in a police raid on an inner-Sydney hair regrowth clinic.
The Institute of Hair Regrowth and Beauty, 105 Pitt Street, Sydney was raided by police and NSW health officials in late September. Investigations have been continuing since this time and the Managing Director is currently under an order from the NSW Health Care Complaints Commission to not possess or distribute pharmacy-only or prescription medications from the premises to clients.
NSW Health Chief Health Officer, Dr Kerry Chant said clients of the institute should see their GP, taking with them any tablets or topical solutions they were given at the clinic so that they can discuss further treatment options and to ensure that the medicines or solutions would not interact with their other medications.
Products seized included minoxidil topical solution mixed with Retin-A for application to the scalp, minoxidil tablets and finasteride tablets.
“Some of the side-effects of the minoxidil (trade name Loniten ®) tablets are extremely concerning in healthy people – including weight gain, low blood pressure (causing people to faint or feel dizzy), fluid and salt retention and, rarely, problems with making blood cells” said Dr Chant.
“Rather than suddenly stopping the treatment, which could be medically dangerous for a small number of people, it is important to see your GP to discuss your options.
“Hair loss, whilst being a common and normal occurrence in a large part of the population, can also be a sign of serious illness.
“Treatments for some normally occurring types of hair loss are available from pharmacies and can be effective.
“People with any health concerns, however, should generally commence treatment only after talking over the options with their own doctor to make sure any planned treatment is safe for them.
“This is particularly important if you are pregnant, have high blood pressure or regularly take any tablets prescribed by your doctor” said Dr Chant.
Background to the drugs:
Minoxidil solution is a pharmacy-only medication – in NSW it can only be purchased from a pharmacy. Some of the strengths provided to clients were much stronger than those normally available from pharmacies.
Minoxidil tablets (Loniten) are only approved for use in Australia for the control of high blood pressure. Minoxidil tablets are not approved for use as a hair restorative treatment. One reason for this is that the tablets may have significant side effects. These include hair growth all over the body, weight gain, low blood pressure (causing people to faint or feel dizzy), fluid and salt retention and, rarely, problems with making blood cells. You should not stop the tablets suddenly. See your GP about a reduction program or cease them under your GP’s instruction.
Finasteride tablets are approved at different doses for two uses, in prostate disease and hair loss.
Tretinoin (Retin -A) creams and gels are mostly used for the control of acne. The commercial products are a prescription-only medication. Tretinoin has recently been used under medical specialist supervision for the treatment of hair loss. It can cause skin sensitivity and it is recommended that it is not used by pregnant women.
For a range of health information, go online to www.health.nsw.gov.au
P.S. IHRB is the name of the Institute of Hair Regrowth and Beauty run by Sam Cohen of 105 Pitt Street Sydney. It is also written as Institute of Hair Regrowth & Beauty or Institute of Hair Re-growth & Beauty.
The Health Care Complaints Commission issued this statement on its website on the 23rd of February 2011.
You can learn more here.
