The National Medical Commission has issued new advertising guidelines that bar doctors, private hospitals and nursing homes from making unsupported claims such as being the “number one” or “best” healthcare provider, promising complete recovery, or using artificial intelligence for commercial promotion.

The notice was issued by the NMC’s Ethics and Registration Board as a public-interest directive, according to a report by Sangbad Pratidin – Kolkata. It applies not only to television and print advertising but also to Facebook, Instagram, websites, blogs and other online platforms.

Under the guidelines, doctors cannot describe themselves as the “number one” or “best” physician in advertisements. Healthcare providers also cannot claim that patients will achieve “100 per cent success” by seeking treatment at a particular clinic, hospital or nursing home. Advertisements cannot use fear about an illness to attract patients or make false, exaggerated or unproven claims such as promising that a disease will be cured within 24 hours.

The notice also restricts the use of doctors’ endorsements in advertisements for medicines or medical products. Slogans suggesting that a named doctor recommends a medicine as a guaranteed or immediate cure will not be permitted. Patient testimonials cannot be used for commercial gain, and patient photographs or personal information cannot be used for business promotion, the report said.

The restrictions extend to digital marketing and influencer-led...

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