China cracks down on fake medical advice with new rules for health influencers

Chinese authorities have announced new rules targeting the rapid expansion of medical science accounts on social media and other unofficial channels to counteract false and misleading medical information online.

The document, titled “Guidelines for Regulating Medical Science Self-Media Behaviour”, refers to independently generated content that is not published by traditional or recognised media organisations but may have been posted to social media or other online outlets.

It emphasises stricter requirements for healthcare practitioners and related personnel when disseminating medical science information on social media platforms. It also underscores the need for platforms to take greater responsibility in verifying account credentials and ensuring content authenticity.

The agencies went on to release detailed “Guidelines for Recognising Medical Advertisements” on August 13.

“A clear line has been drawn between genuine public health education and disguised commercial advertising,” said Gu Baozhong, a market inspection specialist at SAMR, according to an article published by Xinhua the same day.