Glossary A–ZLetter H
Healthcare advertising law
Healthcare advertising law governs advertising for medicinal products, medical devices and treatment methods, mainly through Germany's Healthcare Advertising Act (HWG).
It aims to prevent advertising from leading people into unnecessary or wrong treatment. It applies to manufacturers, pharmacies, medical practices and anyone who distributes such advertising.
On a screen in a pharmacy or a waiting room, it mainly concerns product advertising. Advertising prescription-only medicines to the general public is prohibited. Advertising for other medicines requires mandatory information, and for moving images also the familiar notice about risks and side effects. Misleading claims about efficacy and promises of guaranteed success are among the things that are prohibited.
General health information with no reference to a specific product or procedure is usually outside the scope of the Act. The boundary is fluid, however, for instance when a particular product appears next to a guide on hay fever. Operators in pharmacies and practices should have manufacturers' creatives checked for mandatory information and, in medical practices, also observe the professional rules for doctors.