MEDICAL ADVERTISING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25208, 24 April 1943, Page 4

MEDICAL ADVERTISING

CONTROL FROM AUGUST I REGULATIONS GAZETTED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Apl. 23. The Medical Advertisements Regulations, which have been framed at the request of the board set up under the Medical Advertisements Act passed last year, were gazetted yesterday. Explaining the regulations, the Minister of Health (Mr A. H. Nordmeyer) said that the board had settled the details at a number of preliminary meetings and was now in a position to put into operation the provisions which the members, as a body of experts, had recommended to the Government. The main effect of the regulations, the Minister said, was to prohibit the making in medical advertisements of any claim (1) to diagnose, prevent, alleviate, treat, or cure a large number of diseases or disorders; (2) that any article or mode of treatment is used or recommended by doctors or other professional men or bodies, with the exception that reference may be made to named doctors registered in some part of the British dominions; (3) that any article or mode of, treatment is a panacea or infallible' in its action; (4) that is false, indecent, or expressed in offensive terms; (5) that insofar as it relates to therapeutic value is not based on the advertiser’s honest and reasonable belief; (6) that is intended or is likely to mislead or deceive, or to suggest fear of serious consequences from trivial complaints, i

No medical advertisement is to invite public correspondence for diagnosis or consultation, nor may it refer to any testimonial for which payment or other consideration has been given. A warning about use without medical advice must appear in every advertisement relating to glandular preparations, and advertisements accompanying preparations containing or purporting to contain dangerous ; drugs or poison must name the drug or poison and state the proportion present and the maximum adult dose.

Only recognised pharmaceutical drugs may be advertised, and specific directions for use must accompany the article sold.

The regulations will come into' force on August 1. but a further period until November 1 is allowed in respect of advertisements on containers.