Doctors and private hospitals in Hyderabad and across Telangana could face professional penalties for misleading digital marketing under restrictions outlined by the National Medical Commission (NMC), including action against unverified patient testimonials, exaggerated treatment claims and manipulated online reviews.
The measures were released by the NMC’s Ethics and Medical Registration Board, according to a report by Telangana Today. The notice targets promotional practices that may distort patients’ understanding of medical outcomes or present commercial claims as reliable healthcare information.
The restrictions reportedly cover digital campaigns using artificial intelligence, influencer-led patient testimonials and paid manipulation of online reviews or search engine algorithms. Doctors and hospital managements have also been asked to vet electronic media content and ensure that posts display appropriate registration credentials and state medical register numbers.
The reported rules distinguish between promotional claims and factual institutional information. Updates about hospital services, emergency service directories and peer-reviewed research remain permissible, while exaggerated success claims, fear-based marketing and “before-and-after” photographs of patients are prohibited.
The NMC’s stated enforcement approach includes escalating action against repeat offenders. The report says disciplinary measures could include professional censure, heavy fines and suspension of registration for periods of up to one year through State Medical Councils. In more serious or repeated cases, the NMC has suggested removal of a practitioner from the medical register for one to three years, which would prevent the doctor from practising privately during that period.
The restrictions place responsibility not only on individual practitioners but also on private hospital managements that publish or approve digital content. This could require healthcare institutions to review social media posts, patient-facing websites, online advertisements and third-party promotional campaigns before publication.
For patients, the rules address a growing dependence on online information when choosing doctors and hospitals, particularly in cities where private healthcare providers compete through search results, social media and review platforms. The notice does not prohibit hospitals from communicating their services, but requires such communication to remain factual and transparently linked to registered medical professionals.
The report did not specify a separate implementation timetable or identify individual hospitals facing action. Enforcement would involve the relevant State Medical Councils, with the NMC framework setting out the possible professional consequences for violations and repeat offences.
