JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The dynamic nature of online advertising poses challenges for monitoring and enforcing the World Health Organization (WHO) and the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAPHRA) standards to ensure the integrity of pharmaceutical promotions and safeguard public health. This was demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic because drug and medicinal advertisements on the internet and social media platforms raised concerns regarding compliance with ethical guidelines.

Objective:

The study had two objectives: to examine COVID-19 drug and medicinal promotions across online platforms and social media in 2020-2022 in South Africa and to ensure that drug promotions adhere to ethical guidelines outlined by the WHO and SAPHRA.

Methods:

A cross-sectional review was conducted to assess drug and medicinal advertisements across various internet and social media platforms. A systematic approach was employed to identify and analyze promotional content, focusing on adherence to ethical guidelines outlined by WHO and SAPHRA. Data were collected and analyzed to determine the extent of compliance and identify any potential violations or areas for improvement.

Results:

A total of fourteen online drug advertisements were extracted and analysed. Our findings show that most of the drugs advertised did not meet the regulations and guidelines provided by WHO and SAHPRA. There were omissions about active ingredients, proprietary names, adverse drug responses, precautions, overdosage and adverse drug reactions. Traditional medicines were not fully consistent with the approved WHO ethical criteria data sheet.

Conclusions:

Our analysis highlighted the critical importance of ensuring compliance with ethical and professional guidelines in drug promotions on the internet and social media platforms. The findings showed the need for continued vigilance and enforcement efforts to uphold ethical standards and protect the public health. Ongoing monitoring and collaboration between national drug regulatory agencies, pharmaceutical companies, and online platforms will be essential for promoting responsible advertising. Safety monitoring and pharmacovigilance systems for herbal medicinal products are also yet to be established.