How are medicine advertisements regulated, and what should we as licence holders be aware of?

Hong Kong strictly regulates pharmaceutical advertising to prevent the public from being misled and to ensure that information is accurate. The main regulatory requirements include: 1. It is prohibited to advertise to the public medicines for treating diseases listed in Schedule 1 to the Undesirable Medical Advertisements Ordinance, such as cancer and diabetes. 2. It is prohibited to advertise prescription medicines (Part I poisons) to the public. 3. All pharmaceutical advertisements must be truthful and accurate, and must not contain false, exaggerated or misleading claims. 4. Advertisements must not imply that a medicine can “cure” a condition or is “100% effective”. As a licence holder, you must carefully review the content of any advertisement—including those on television, in newspapers, on websites and on social media—and ensure that it fully complies with the regulations before planning to publish it. Although restrictions on OTC medicine advertising are fewer, it should still be approached responsibly, with balanced information and a recommendation that consumers consult a healthcare professional before use.