H&FW Nagaland cautions against prohibited medical advertisements

June 13, 2024 7 Views No Comment

Urges print media, publishers, ad agencies, social media users to desist from publishing and promoting products in contravention of Drugs & Magic Remedies Act

Kohima, June 13 (MExN): The Department of Health & Family Welfare (H&FW) Nagaland has cautioned against misleading and prohibited medical advertisements by highlighting the provision under Section 7 of the Drugs & Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisement) Act, 1954.

The Act prohibits any person from participating in the publication of advertisements referring to drugs in terms that suggest or are calculated to lead to their use.

This includes procurement of miscarriage in women or prevention of conception in women, maintenance or improvement of the capacity of human beings for sexual pleasure, and correction of menstrual disorders in women.

Additionally, it prohibits advertisements for the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of 54 diseases, disorders, or conditions (see table).

According to the State DIPR, the H&FW informed that Section 7 provides penal provisions for non-compliance, including imprisonment up to 6 months, or a fine, or both. Subsequent convictions carry imprisonment up to 1 year, or a fine, or both.

In view of these legal provisions, the H&FW has informed all print media, publishers, advertisement agencies, and social media users to refrain from publishing, promoting, or broadcasting drug/medicine products that contravene the 1954 Act.

Strict legal action shall be initiated against such defaulters, it added.