New rules ban paid online reviews and AI testimonials for doctors

The National Medical Commission has brought digital advertising by doctors and hospitals under strict medical ethics rules, banning paid search rankings, fake reviews, referral commissions, and artificial intelligence-generated testimonials.

New Restrictions

Issued on October 6 by the Ethics and Medical Registration Board, the guidelines cover websites, social media, messaging apps, podcasts, and influencer partnerships. Doctors and medical institutions can no longer claim to be the best, number one, leading, or most trusted unless they can prove it with transparent facts. Buying fake followers, manipulating search algorithms, and paying referral fees or commissions for bringing in patients are now strictly prohibited. Agencies and influencers cannot be paid based on how many patients they bring in.

Penalties and Permissions

Doctors who break these rules face graded punishments. A first offense brings a warning and mandatory training, a second leads to a fine and censure, and further violations can cause a three to twelve-month suspension. Repeated offenses can remove a doctor from the medical register for up to three years. Hospitals face penalties under the Clinical Establishments Act or state laws. Meanwhile, doctors and hospitals remain free to share factual details about their location, fees, departments, and equipment.

Context

These guidelines aim to stop misleading medical marketing and protect patients from being influenced by fake online popularity. The rules follow a legal case in the Supreme Court concerning medical advertising standards.