Pharmaceutical Review (www.pharmarev.com). Health Canada has warned physicians that they must not promote specific drugs on their personal websites, as the practice violates federal advertising requirements. The department recently wrote to provincial medical colleges to express its concerns and posted a document on its website to guide physicians and other health professionals on how to comply with the Food and Drugs Act and its regulations. Health Canada took these steps after receiving complaints about direct-to consumer advertising of prescription drugs on the websites of some cosmetic surgeons. “In addressing the complaints, it was noted that this practice was widespread,” the department said in its guidance document (www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/advert-publicit/pol/web-qa-qr-eng.php). Health Canada is working to raise awareness of the rules, it says, because it “suspects that physicians may not be aware of the federal advertising prohibitions or their application to physician advertising.” The document points out that care must also be taken when referring to other health products, such as over the- counter drugs, vaccines, natural health products and medical devices. Although advertising restrictions for these products are less stringent than for prescription drugs, Health Canada notes that “messages must not be false, misleading or deceptive” and must not make claims to treat or cure any disease listed on Schedule A of the Food and Drugs Act.
Source: https://www.cpjournal.ca/doi/pdf/10.3821/1913-701X-144.5.207b