NMC glossary · What the notice covers
Medium Of Advertisement: What It Means Under The NMC Rules
Also searched as: Social media, Channels covered
The notice defines the medium of advertisement very widely: print, TV, radio, social media, websites and blogs, messaging apps such as WhatsApp, podcasts, influencer marketing, digital campaigns, sponsored posts, AI-generated promotion and any other audio-visual or digital communication.
Updated 7 November 2026. Reviewed by Tamojit Lodh, Founder of Medmatis. Built around the NMC's Public Notice No. R-13014/01/2024-Ethics of 6 October 2026. Not legal advice.
Key facts, with sources
Hide the 4 key facts and their sourcesShow the 4 key facts and their sources
| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Term | Medium of advertisement (also searched as Social media, Channels covered) | Medmatis |
| In the notice | Defined by the notice itself. | NMC notice of 6 Oct 2026, cl. 3.5, cl. 3.6 |
| Applies to | Doctors (RMPs) and hospitals/medical institutions | NMC notice of 6 Oct 2026 |
| In force | From 6 October 2026, with immediate effect. The NMC may issue clarifications and advisories (cl. 12). | NMC notice of 6 Oct 2026 |
In plain words
The list is not closed. It says “includes but is not limited to”, and ends with “any audio-visual or digital communication by whatsoever name called”. A new platform does not fall outside the notice because it is not named.
Social media has its own definition (clause 3.6): internet-based websites and apps that let users create, share and join online communities. WhatsApp, Telegram and Facebook are named under messaging platforms in the list of media.
What it does not mean
- It does not mean everything sent on these channels is an advertisement. The medium only tells you where the notice can reach; whether a message is an advertisement still turns on whether it is promotional (cl. 3.2).
- It does not say anything special about private one-to-one messages. The notice does not address them separately.
A WhatsApp message confirming a patient’s own appointment time.
A WhatsApp broadcast to a patient list promoting a package with a limited-period offer.
Illustrative wording only. It shows the idea and is not a clearance of any page.
The notice’s own words
Quoted from the NMC notice of 6 October 2026. Check the clause number against the original.
cl. 3.5"Medium of advertisement" means and includes but is not limited to print media, Television, Radio, Social media platforms, websites and blogs, messaging platforms (WhatsApp, Telegrams, Facebook etc.), Podcasts, Influencer marketing, Digital marketing campaigns, sponsored posts, artificial intelligence generated promotion, public interviews, news articles intended for promotion, online healthcare platforms, any audio-visual or digital communication by whatsoever name called.
cl. 3.6"Social Media" shall mean and include all forms of publications and sharing through internet-based websites, apps, etc. by whatsoever name called, which allows users to create, share and join online communities, participate in social networking, etc.
Our plain-language guide to the whole notice → Check your own text against these rules →
Frequently asked questions
Does the notice cover WhatsApp and Telegram?
Messaging platforms such as WhatsApp, Telegram and Facebook are named in the list of media (cl. 3.5). A message on them is covered when it is promotional, as with any other medium.
Is the list of media complete?
No. Clause 3.5 says the list “includes but is not limited to” the named channels and closes with any audio-visual or digital communication by whatsoever name called.
This entry explains a public notice in plain language and quotes its clause numbers. It is not legal advice. Read the original NMC notice and take advice on your own situation.
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