Ads by telemedicine providers do not fall under Singapore Medical Council purview

The Singapore Medical Council (SMC) clarified on November 14 that it does not have jurisdiction over advertisements placed by telemedicine providers. The statement comes in response to concerns raised regarding ads for weight-loss drugs, specifically glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists, which are available by prescription only. According to Singapore law, advertisements for prescription-only drugs are prohibited.

The Ministry of Health and the Health Sciences Authority have confirmed that they are reviewing these advertisements and will take appropriate enforcement action if any violations are identified. The SMC's Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines provide standards for medical practitioners, including advertising principles. These guidelines prohibit advertising that induces fear, insecurity, or dissatisfaction with one's body image or physical appearance.

While these guidelines apply to individual registered medical practitioners, the SMC clarified that telemedicine providers are not subject to the same rules. Therefore, ads for weight-loss drugs posted by telemedicine platforms would only be in violation of the SMC's ethical standards if they were endorsed or placed by individual doctors.

The advertisements in question promote GLP-1 drugs like Saxenda, which are approved for weight loss in individuals with a body mass index (BMI) over 30, or those with a BMI over 27.5 who also have chronic conditions such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol.