The National Medical Commission's Guidelines on Ethical Advertising and Public Communication took effect the day they were published. They cover every medium: Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp, podcasts, influencer tie-ups and AI-made content. Here is the whole notice in pictures, and a checker for your own posts.
Directly or indirectly, in any medium. The format does not matter; the promotional character does. 3.2
The prohibitions below apply, even if an agency, influencer or platform published it for you. 4.4
Information shared in the normal course, without promotion or commercial intent, is exempt. 3.2 Expl. I
Not allowedNo advertising of achievements, success rates or patient numbers, and no claim you cannot verify.
Not allowedDo not request, share or buy reviews, ratings or testimonials for promotion. Patient consent does not make it permissible.
Not allowedNo surgical results, before/after photos, celebrity patients or promotional case stories.
Not allowedNo names, faces, anomalies, records or clinical images that can identify a patient. Crop, blur or black out identifying marks.
Not allowedNo offers, coupons, cashbacks, contests, gifts, referral benefits or free procedures that pull patients in. Fees may be stated factually.
Not allowedNo direct or indirect soliciting of patients, no marketing your services yourself or through a third party.
Not allowedNo approval or recommendation of any drug, device, diagnostic, health or commercial product using your name, photo, voice or status, paid or unpaid.
Not allowedNo content designed to create demand for unneeded procedures or diagnostics, and no fear-based marketing.
Not allowedNo unrealistic expectations, concealed risks, secret remedies or treatments without established safety and efficacy.
Not allowedNo commission, referral fee or lead-generation fee tied to getting patients. Agency or influencer pay cannot be linked to patients procured.
Not allowedNo bought or manipulated followers, likes, reviews, views or comments, and no gaming of search rankings.
Not allowedAI promotional campaigns for commercial interest are prohibited. No synthetic patients, voices, outcomes or endorsements. Label any AI content as AI.
Not allowedNo celebrity, influencer, patient, employee or other third party promoting you. What you cannot do directly, you cannot do through someone else.
Not allowedYour photograph cannot be used where it amounts to self-advertisement. On letterheads and signboards it is unethical conduct.
Not allowedBroadcasting procedures must follow the NMC's live-surgery framework on safety, consent, privacy and sponsorship.
AllowedStarting practice, change of address or type of practice, temporary absence, resuming or succeeding to a practice, and a public declaration of fees. Factual and non-promotional.
AllowedLectures and awareness content on TV, radio and electronic media in your own name and designation, without promoting your practice or employer and without monetised promotion.
AllowedCommunication based on case studies you have published in reputed medical journals.
AllowedHealth education pamphlets for visiting patients, with no guarantee of cure, superiority or unsubstantiated claims.
AllowedGreetings on days of national importance or days linked to the profession, with no advertisement for professional gain.
AllowedName, location, contact, departments, facilities, equipment, emergency services, accreditation and charges. No superiority claims and no promotional portrayal of an individual doctor.
AllowedNames, recognised qualifications, specialties, registration details and availability. Treated as patient information, not advertising.
AllowedCampaigns on Central and State Government programmes in the larger public interest are exempt.
A doctor publishing any electronic media post should disclose four things. A hospital's post should disclose the same for the doctors it names. 3.2 Expl. III, IV
Any AI-generated content must also carry a mark saying its origin is AI. 7.2
Graded action the State Medical Council may take against a doctor. 10.1
Hospitals and medical institutions are dealt with under the applicable Clinical Establishments Act or State Act. A doctor who personally authorised or took part in a hospital's prohibited communication can still be examined separately. 10.1 Expl., 11.5
Paste captions or post text from Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube or WhatsApp. The scan runs in your browser, nothing is uploaded, and each flag names the clause.
The scan matches wording. It cannot see images, video, tone or context, so it will miss things (a before-and-after photo with a neutral caption) and sometimes over-flag (a news quote). Treat it as a first pass.
Source: National Medical Commission, Ethics & Medical Registration Board, public notice R-13014/01/2024-Ethics dated 6 October 2026, read with the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002. This page is general information and a screening aid, not legal advice or a ruling. Whether a post is a violation is decided by your State Medical Council after a show-cause notice. For the wider picture, including consumer and data protection law, read Social media for healthcare professionals in India: the dos and don'ts.