Illegal Advertisings through Social Media from Aesthetic Medical Clinics in Mahasarakham Province

Abstract

Objective: To survey illegal online advertising of aesthetic medical clinics in Mahasarakham. Method: The researcher collected related advertisings on all social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and other websites) from all 27 clinics in a period of one month. It was found that all clinics used Facebook as an advertising medium. Therefore, the study selected advertising with the name of the clinics on Facebook for examination of legal violations according to Section 38 of the Sanatorium Act B.E. 2541 and its amendment (No. 4) B.E. 2559, Announcement of the Department of Health Service Support on regulation, methods, conditions and costs of advertisements or announcements on sanatorium B.E. 2019 and the Medical Council's Announcement No. 50/2549, regarding words prohibited in advertising and manuals for approving advertisements or announcements on sanatorium. Results: There were 163 Facebook advertisings with 151 (92.64 percent) violating the law. When considering the three relevant laws, violations of the announcement of the Department of Health Service Support or announcements on sanatorium in 2019 were most common in Article 7(1) (prohibiting false or unfounded advertisements) (37 ads or 24.50% of the illegal ads); violations of the Medical Council's announcement were most common in Article 8, using the word "comprehensive services" or showing comparative prices (28 ads or 18.54% of illegal ads found); violations of the Medical Council's Announcement No. 50/2549 were most common on Botox (22 ads, 14.57% of illegal ads found). Conclusion: The results of the study can be used as input in the preparation of guidelines for ad approval and surveillance of ads from private clinics and could be used as information to promote examination of ads for consumers and the village health volunteer network.