Mao Qun'an, spokesman from China's Ministry of Health, says that MOH is forbidding eight kinds of content from appearing in advertisements for medical products as a measure to better regulate the sector.
The eight kinds of content are over-use of medical technology; posting of curing methods; guarantees of a cure; successful curing rates; testifying to the effect of a medical product by using patients; using medical institutions' images; using medical experts' images; and proving the effectiveness of a product by invoking the name of a military unit.
These guidelines, together called Management Measures on the Advertisement of Medical Products, has been jointly revised by MOH and the State Administration for Industry and Commerce. It will be put into force from January 1, 2007. The new measures stipulate that the content of medical advertisements should be checked by provincial health departments and the advertisers should provide evidence of passing the inspection before releasing the advertisement.
The rule also says no disguised advertisement for medical service or product is allowed in the form of a medical program, advertorial, infomercial or news release.
