- Saturday, 18 April 2026
Nepal, Kathmandu, April 18: The Nepal Medical Council (NMC) has directed doctors not to recommend medicines on social media platforms without proper medical examination.
Council Registrar Dr Shatish Kumar Dev has urged all concerned to immediately stop the practice of prescribing medicines through online platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. Medical practitioners have also been advised not to disseminate audio or video content in the name of online consultations.
The Council expressed concern that such practices may spread irresponsible and unscientific information, potentially misleading the public and increasing the risk of people choosing wrong medications, which could lead to serious health consequences.
Highlighting that healthcare is a highly sensitive sector, the Council has said that prescribing medicines without thorough examination and direct interaction with patients can cause severe health complications, create unnecessary risks, and result in long-term health impacts.
The Council has further urged the public to seek care from registered medical professionals when ill, rather than relying on unverified advice from social media.
Medical professionals have also been instructed not to share patients’ audio or video content; if such sharing is necessary, strict measures must be taken to protect patient privacy. —
