The National Medical Commission (NMC) issued its ethical advertising guidelines on 6 October 2026. The notice covers communications that directly or indirectly promote medical services, including communication through online channels (cl. 3.2, 3.5).
What the notice says
The notice distinguishes between two issues:
- Requesting or sharing reviews: Doctors must not request or share patient testimonials or reviews for promotion on social media (cl. 3.2 Expl. V).
- Fake or misleading reviews: Fake, paid or misleading reviews and testimonials are barred for doctors and hospitals (cl. 3.2 Expl. V).
Consent does not remove the restriction. A patient's permission alone does not make a testimonial, patient story or success claim acceptable (cl. 6.2). The notice also bars using a celebrity, influencer, patient, employee or other third party to give a prohibited testimonial or endorsement (cl. 8.1 xi).
What it means in practice
Do not assume that a patient's willingness to provide a review makes promotional use acceptable. The notice's restrictions must be considered independently of consent.
Review existing posts and website content that quote patients, reproduce reviews or present patient experiences as promotional evidence. Consider the purpose and context of each item, and seek legal advice where the notice does not provide a clear answer.
Google reviews are an unresolved point. The notice restricts doctors' requests or sharing of reviews for promotion on social media, but it does not clearly say how that applies to a particular review platform. Obtain medical-law advice before adopting a process for requesting, selecting or reposting Google reviews.
What is still allowed?
The notice does not establish that every public mention of feedback is prohibited in every context. However, it clearly bars fake, paid or misleading reviews and restricts doctors' requests or sharing of patient testimonials or reviews for promotion on social media (cl. 3.2 Expl. V).
Do not interpret this distinction as permission to republish patient feedback. Where the purpose or platform is uncertain, seek legal advice rather than assuming the activity is permitted.
Related reading: NMC advertising guidelines 2026 · Reputation Management · NMC-compliant healthcare marketing agency in Kolkata
Source: NMC Public Notice No. R-13014/01/2024-Ethics, 6 October 2026. General information, not legal advice. Last checked: 15 October 2026.