Published: 7 October 2026 | Official update: National Medical Commission, 6 October 2026
At a Glance
- NMC has issued new Guidelines on Ethical Advertising and Public Communication.
- The guidelines apply to hospitals, medical institutions and registered medical practitioners.
- The update is relevant to websites, social media, public communication and promotional material used by healthcare providers.
- Doctors and institutions should review the official document before publishing promotional claims or public-facing medical communication.
Why this matters
Healthcare advertising carries special ethical risks because patients may interpret promotional statements as medical claims. Regulatory guidance is therefore intended to reduce misleading claims, preserve professional standards and ensure that public communication does not exploit patient vulnerability.
What doctors and hospitals should review
- Claims about treatment outcomes or “guaranteed” results.
- Use of testimonials, comparative claims and superlatives.
- Social-media promotions and influencer-style medical communication.
- Display of qualifications, specialties and institutional credentials.
- Public communication that could be interpreted as solicitation or inducement.
Practical takeaway
Hospitals and doctors should review their website pages, social-media profiles, paid advertisements and promotional creatives against the official NMC document. Existing content may need to be revised where it conflicts with current professional standards.
Official Source
National Medical Commission — 6 October 2026 notice
MedBodh note: This article is an informational summary and not legal advice. The official NMC document should be treated as the controlling source.