# Healthcare & Medicines Advertising Policy
This policy applies to all ads promoting healthcare-related products, services, platforms, or advice. Advertisers must comply with local laws in each targeted country/region, and certain products may be restricted or banned depending on the context.
Disclaimer: This policy is provided for the platform’s compliance and guidance purposes only. It is not exhaustive and does not constitute legal or medical advice, or interpretation of applicable laws and regulations. Advertisers remain solely responsible for ensuring full compliance with all legal requirements in the jurisdictions in which they operate.
# 1. General Advertising Requirements
We are committed to protecting the safety and trust of our users. Healthcare-related ads — especially those promoting products or services that can affect physical or mental well-being — are subject to additional scrutiny and restrictions.
In some cases, even if a product or service is not clearly prohibited by law, we may still reject ads if:
- There is no established regulatory framework in the target country/region.
- The advertiser cannot demonstrate proper qualifications or certifications.
- The ad includes medical claims without appropriate backing.
Our goal is to ensure that users are not misled by unverified, unsafe, or exaggerated healthcare content — and to prevent potential harm caused by non-professional service providers or unregulated products.
To protect users and ensure compliance with global and local regulations, all healthcare-related advertisements on our platform must follow these baseline requirements:
Follow All Applicable Laws
- Ads must comply with the healthcare, advertising, consumer protection, and data privacy laws in each country/region where the ad is shown. This includes product licensing, import regulations, etc.
Avoid Misleading or Unverified Claims
- Do not imply that a product can diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure medical conditions unless this is legally authorized, scientifically proven, and supported by valid documentation. This includes overstated benefits, unverified testimonials, etc.
Do Not Promote Unapproved or Unsafe Products
- Products containing banned ingredients, hidden active substances, or those flagged by health authorities must not be advertised.
Obtain Required Licenses
- Some products and services (e.g. medicines, therapeutic supplements, medical devices, clinics) typically require a valid license or registration issued by a country’s/region’s healthcare regulator.
Ensure Product Safety
- Ads must not promote products that pose risks to user health, including items that are unsafe, untested, or not compliant with relevant health regulations.
Respect User Trust and Medical Integrity
- Ads must not encourage unsafe self-treatment, delay in seeking professional medical care, or rely on personal testimonials to replace expert advice.
Include Required Health Disclaimers
- Where applicable, ads must clearly display mandatory health warnings such as “Health supplements are not a substitute for medicine” and “Follow medical advice as directed.” These disclaimers must be prominent, legible, and adapted to local regulatory requirements.
Note: Any advertisement that fails to comply with these general advertising requirements will be considered prohibited and subject to removal or rejection by the platform.
# 2. Regulatory Requirements by Category
To ensure ad content complies with platform policy and local laws, healthcare-related ads are generally classified into three categories based on their risk level and regulatory status.
Note: The following charts and types of products and services are only illustrative and should not be construed as exhaustive. Also, there are possibilities that certain products would be more strictly regulated than the category it has been listed in due to its own specific features or different circumstances. For instance, certain subcategories under the “Typically Restricted” category may be prohibited in specific countries. Advertisers must ensure their ads comply with local laws and regional requirements before submission. Please review regulations carefully, as compliance ultimately rests with the advertiser.
# 2.1 Typically Without Restrictions
| Subcategory | Description |
|---|---|
| General Wellness Products | Lifestyle products for comfort or relaxation that do not make medical or therapeutic claims |
| Fitness & Wellness Apps | Apps with no diagnostic or therapeutic claims |
# 2.2 Typically Restricted (Require Relevant Licenses, etc.)
| Subcategory | Description |
|---|---|
| Prescription & OTC Medicines | Products classified as prescription-only (Rx) or over-the-counter (OTC) drugs that are used to prevent, treat, or manage medical conditions. Includes medications for physical or mental health, both synthetic and herbal, and regardless of claim strength. |
| Medical Devices | Any product or equipment — digital or physical — used for diagnosing or treating a health condition. Devices can be regulated depending on risk class and local law. |
| Licensed Clinics & Services | Institutions offering medical treatment |
| Telemedicine & Online Pharmacies | Platforms, apps, or websites offering medical consultations, diagnosis, prescriptions, or drug sales through digital channels |
| Therapeutic Supplements | Supplements that contain active ingredients or imply a medical benefit — such as preventing or treating diseases, balancing hormones, or improving fertility |
| Diagnostic & Genetic Testing | Medical-grade test kits and services, such as DNA ancestry kits, hormone panels, COVID-19 PCR tests, cholesterol screening kits, home HIV test kits |
| Medical Cosmetic Procedures | Aesthetic treatments with medical involvement |
| Licensed Traditional Medicine | Health products, practices, or services based on historical, cultural, or regional healing systems, such as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Ayurveda, Unani, and others |
| Manual Therapies with Medical Framing | Non-invasive treatments with health claims |
| Addiction Treatment Services | Facilities, programs, crisis hotlines, or platforms offering in-patient, out-patient, or online addiction recovery programs |
| Clinical Trial Recruitment | Campaigns seeking participants for medical or pharmaceutical research studies, pre-approved by ethics/research bodies |
| Contraception & Pregnancy Testing Services | Clinics or platforms offering contraception services, family planning advice, or pregnancy testing (in-person or via approved devices) |
Licenses, if applicable, must be issued by the appropriate regulator in the target market.
# 2.3 Prohibited
| Subcategory | Description |
|---|---|
| Banned or Unapproved Drugs and Substances | Illegal or unregistered drug/ingredients, such as weight control products with hCG, products flagged by government or regulatory warnings, products that contain ephedra |
| False or Miracle Health Claims | Health or wellness claims that promise instant results, exaggerated benefits, or outcomes that cannot be scientifically verified |
| Experimental or Unlicensed Therapies | Scientifically unsupported methods, such as unverified stem-cell kits, ozone therapy, biohacking, do-it-yourself (DIY) genetic engineering products, gene therapy and gene therapy kits |
| Illegal Abortion or Organ Trade | Services related to unlawful abortion procedures, as well as any trade, sale, or purchase of human organs, tissues, or gametes in violation of applicable laws |
| Sexual Enhancement or Fetish Products | Adult products or promotions that are unsafe, misleading, or inappropriate for medical or wellness advertising |
| Genetic Data Commerce | Services that promote the collection, sale, or misuse of DNA or genetic data |
| Graphic Medical Imagery | Visuals that are excessively graphic, disturbing, or unsuitable for advertising, including invasive medical content |
| Misleading Medical Tech | Technologies, apps, or devices promoted with exaggerated or inaccurate claims of diagnostic or therapeutic capabilities |
| Unlicensed Traditional Medicine | Unlicensed traditional clinics offering treatment in countries/regions with clear regulation; unverified or homemade supplements with unapproved ingredients |
| Opioid Prescription Painkillers | Prescription-only opioid pain medications with a high risk of abuse, dependence, or diversion |
# 2.4 Context-Dependent Special Cases
Some products like the following types often require case-by-case review, depending on ad claims, presentation, and local legal frameworks. Some features (e.g. claiming to possess medical effects) may lead to requirement of licenses issued by the appropriate regulator in the target market. Other features may lead to ban on the products like the examples illustrated below.
# 2.4.1 Weight Loss Products
Supplements, drinks, apps, and services marketed to reduce body fat or control weight.
- Prohibited examples:
- Exaggerated or unsafe claims (“Lose 10kg in 5 days”)
- Before-and-after images that suggest guaranteed results
- Products with banned substances
- Targeting minors
- Containing marketing messages that make people feel unpleasant and insecure about their appearance
- Exploiting people's insecurities to cater to certain beauty standards
- Emphasizing negative or unhealthy body images
- Including content that may induce body shame
- Close-up shots of specific body parts through actions such as pinching fat
# 2.4.2 Manual Therapy
Physical techniques (e.g., joint mobilization, spinal stretching) used to treat musculoskeletal problems or support posture and recovery.
- Prohibited examples:
- Claims without any regulatory path
- Unlicensed practitioners using deceptive or exaggerated medical language
- Use of fake credentials
# 2.4.3 Massage Services
Hands-on physical therapy or spa services involving manipulation of body tissues to promote relaxation or relieve tension.
- Prohibited examples:
- Sexually suggestive or adult-themed massage ads
- Use of misleading medical terms without license
- Ads from unverified or unlicensed clinics in regulated markets
# 3. How to Fix Disapproved Ads
If your ad was disapproved for violating our Healthcare & Medicines Advertising Policy, follow these steps:
Understand the Rejection Reason
- Review the specific category and detailed explanation provided in the disapproval notification or email. Make Necessary Changes
- Depending on the issue, you may need to:
- Remove misleading or exaggerated claims
- Add a license or certificate
- Modify visuals, captions, or targeting
Resubmit the Ad for Review
- After making the necessary changes, resubmit the ad for review. Our team will re-evaluate it against the policy requirements.