Advertising is Prohibited in Health Services, Information Rules Clarified!

published by the Ministry of Health Regulation on Promotion and Information Activities in Health Services, imposes strict rules on promotional and information activities in the healthcare sector. The main purpose of the regulation, in health service delivery Prohibiting implicit or explicit advertising and ethics of information activities, To ensure that it is carried out within scientific and legal limits.

Regulations, healthcare professionals, private health institutions and international health tourism intermediary organizations covers.

Advertising is Strictly Prohibited, Information Subject to Certain Rules!

The most important principles and restrictions brought by the regulation are as follows::

Advertisement Ban: It is strictly prohibited to make or cause implicit or explicit advertising in the provision of health services. (Article 5).
Permitted Scope of Information: Promotion and information, only the address of the facility/physician, communication, working hours, specialties and with health protective/promoting information may be limited (Article 4, 5).
Obligation of Scientific Evidence: Its accuracy has not been scientifically and clinically proven, No statements can be made about treatment methods that have not become established medical methods. (Article 5/c).
Patient Comments and Thank You Sharing is Prohibited: Advertisements cannot be shared on social media and other channels based on expressions of gratitude or satisfaction of the patient or their relative. (Article 5/e, 7/g).
Promotion and Marketing Activities Prohibited: Fee, discount, campaign, promotions, Marketing activities such as raffles and gifts cannot be included. (Article 5/l, 5/m).

New Rules in Visual Content and Social Media

Serious restrictions have been imposed on social media and internet publishing:

Obligation of Consent: In order to use visual content belonging to the patient, the patient express consent (One-1 Form ile) It is a must to buy. This consent, Can be withdrawn at any time without any conditions (Article 7/b, 7/c).
Technological Change is Prohibited: No subsequent technological changes or corrections can be made to the visual content. (Article 7/e).
Before/After Images are Required: It is mandatory that the images before and after the medical procedure are displayed in the same environment and technical conditions and the date is specified. (Article 7/f).
Disable User Interaction: Your visual shares comment, Disabling user interactions such as liking and resharing is mandatory (Article 7/ğ).
Surgery Images Cannot Be Shared: medical intervention, Patient images during intervention or surgery cannot be shared (Article 7/h).
Warning Statement Obligation: In visuals used in domestic promotions, “With any surgical or interventional procedure, results may vary from person to person.. It is recommended that you get a detailed opinion from your doctor before the procedure.” It is mandatory to have a warning (Article 7/k).

Special Regulation for International Health Tourism

Some exceptions are granted for international health tourism promotions abroad.:

Separate Platform Obligation: Promotions abroad, It must be done on a separate social media or website in official languages other than Turkish. (Article 8/a).
Sponsored Promotion Permit: On international platforms, Provided that the target audience is selected abroad and complies with the Regulation sponsored promotion can be done (Article 8/a, 8/d).
Discount and Campaign Announcement: International health tourism service providers, Discounts for promotions abroad, Can announce campaigns and competitive prices (Article 8/3).
Prohibition on Creating Requests Within Türkiye: Promotion aimed at creating demand among people living in Turkey is strictly prohibited. (Article 8/c).

Audit and Sanctions

Regulations, It also details the inspection and sanction processes:

Provincial Evaluation Commission: To evaluate the compliance of promotional and information activities in the provinces with the legislation Health Information Promotional Activities Provincial Evaluation Commission was established (Article 10).
Control: General Directorate and Provincial Health Directorates, press, broadcasting, will conduct regular scanning and monitoring via social media and websites (Article 11).
Administrative Sanctions: About health facilities and intermediary organizations that act contrary to the provisions of the regulation 3359 Administrative sanctions will be applied within the framework of Law no., A criminal complaint will be made to the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office for criminal acts and an application may be made to block access to contrary content. (Article 12).

Visual Content and Shares That Are Strictly Prohibited

Prohibited Content Category	Details of Restrictions According to the Regulation
Images Containing Advertising and Exaggeration	Health facility or professional in a way that exceeds the promotion limit highlighting, misleading, untrue images (Article 7/a).
Surgery Moment Images	medical intervention, initiative or patient view during surgery cannot be shared (Article 7/h).
Intimate Area Images	In a way that would violate general moral rules Visual content of intimate parts of the body cannot be shared (Article 7/I).
Manipulated Images	Visual content later on technological change or correction not applicable (Article 7/e).
Producing Advertising from Patient Satisfaction	Patients or their relatives expressions of thanks or satisfaction over visual sharing for advertising purposes can't be done (Article 7/ğ).
User Interactive Images	Shared images comment, Disabling user interactions such as liking and resharing is mandatory (Article 7/ğ).
Sponsored/Paid Publishing	Shares with visual content, in written/visual media or social media channels It cannot be published with sponsorship or payment. (Madde 7/d).