DHA-licensed healthcare professionals utilizing social media for medical commercials should preserve their private {and professional} accounts separate, in accordance with standards issued by the Dubai Well being Authority (DHA).
They need to additionally keep away from interacting with present or former sufferers by way of their private social media accounts.
The round launched by DHA, Requirements for Medical Commercial Content material on Social Media, acknowledged: “All healthcare professionals shall preserve a separate skilled and private social media account and keep away from interacting with present or previous sufferers on private social media accounts.”
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The identical requirement is repeated below the part on healthcare professionals’ duties. The doc states: “Use separate private {and professional} accounts.”
Use solely titles listed on DHA licence
Healthcare professionals should clearly state their title, title, skilled qualification and speciality as listed on their DHA licence. They need to not use names or speciality titles which can be totally different from these on their DHA licence.
The doc provides examples together with ‘Beauty Specialist or Advisor’, ‘Aesthetic Specialist or Advisor’, ‘Aesthetician’, ‘Cosmetologist’, ‘Food regimen Specialist or Advisor’, ‘Magnificence Specialist or Advisor’, ‘Anti-Growing older Specialist or Advisor’ and ‘Beauty or Magnificence Knowledgeable’.
The title or prefix ‘Dr. or Physician’ can be utilized solely by physicians, dentists and different healthcare professionals holding a recognised Physician of Philosophy (PhD).
Correct, straightforward to grasp data
Healthcare professionals should present data that’s truthful, correct, concise, updated and straightforward to grasp. The knowledge ought to be supported by present worldwide greatest apply in drugs, peer-reviewed literature and recognised scientific and medical sources.
They need to additionally clearly point out whether or not the data they supply is predicated on scientific research, professional consensus, skilled expertise or private opinion. They need to disclose any monetary, skilled or private data that might affect sufferers’ understanding or use of the data, services or products provided.
Affected person privateness should be protected
Healthcare professionals should shield affected person privateness and confidentiality always, particularly on social media. They need to additionally forestall unauthorised entry to sufferers’ private knowledge, together with footage, and make sure that de-identified data can’t be linked again to the affected person.
They need to get hold of knowledgeable consent from a affected person earlier than disclosing health-related data. For a kid beneath the age of 18, verifiable consent should be obtained from the kid’s mum or dad earlier than amassing, utilizing or disclosing private or well being data.
The requirements additionally require healthcare professionals to keep away from figuring out sufferers.
No deceptive or fear-based content material
Social media medical commercials should not present deceptive or misleading data. They need to additionally not create concern or concern a few affected person’s well being to extend demand for a product, process or service.
The requirements additionally say healthcare professionals should not create an pointless want for a product, process or service or exploit sufferers’ vulnerability or lack of health-related data. Healthcare professionals are accountable for the content material and elegance of social media medical commercials on their private accounts.
Visiting healthcare professionals also needs to have a separate account for healthcare companies offered in DHA healthcare amenities.
