NMC lists exceptions to prohibited advertising practices for doctors
New Delhi: Research-based communications, formal announcements, lectures or talks on public health and diseases for public awareness are exceptions granted to doctors under newly released Guidelines on Ethical Advertising and Public Communication by hospitals/medical institutions and Registered Medical Practitioners
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the NMC Ethics Board released these guidelines on 06.10.2026 to regulate advertisements and digital communications relating to medical practice and healthcare services in an ethical, truthful, transparent, and responsible manner.
Under Chapter III of these guidelines, NMC has specified the responsibilities and ethical communication standards including the advertising restrictions and permitted communications for RMPs and exceptions from prohibitions from RMP.
The following exceptions from prohibited advertising practices have been granted to the RMP:
i. Only research-based communication, wherein they have published interesting case studies in reputed medical journals, shall be allowed.
ii. A medical practitioner is, however, permitted to make a formal announcement regarding the following :
a) On starting practice.
b) On change of type of practice.
c) On changing address.
d) On temporary absence from duty.
e) On resumption of another practice.
f) On succeeding to another practice.
g) Public declaration of charge.
iii. Medical Practitioners may deliver lectures or talks on public health and diseases for public awareness through television, radio and electronic media in their own name and designation, without promoting their employer organization.
iv. Medical Practitioners can issue health education and general information pamphlets/ brochures to the patients visiting their clinic/ hospital but these should not contain guarantee of cure or superiority over others or unsubstantiated claims or misleading information
v. Greeting on days of national importance or related to medical profession, etc. of National Day, etc. can be given by Medical Practitioners, however same should not contain advertisement of a professional gains.
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