Doctor Of Promotion And Advertising Products On Social Media, IDI: It's Prohibited

Chairman of the Honorary Council for Ethics, Doctor (MKEK) of the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) Djoko Widyarto during a press conference in Jakarta, Saturday. (ANTARA/Putri Hanifa)

JAKARTA - The presence of influencer doctors who are actively promoting health products on social media is now the concern of IDI.

Chairman of the Honorary Council for Doctors' Ethics (MKEK) of the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) Djoko Widyarto emphasized that this is not allowed or prohibited for doctors to promote their products on social media platforms, in accordance with the rules stated in the doctor's ethical fatwa in social media.

"They don't realize that it's not allowed, MKEK itself has issued two fatwas about it. If international advertising is still possible. We (in Indonesia) are still not allowed," said Djoko during a press conference in Jakarta, reported by ANTARA, Saturday, March 2.

According to Djoko, doctors are not allowed to advertise, especially if the advertisement is related to claims of healing, beauty and fitness.

However, doctors in Indonesia are still allowed to advertise related to public services or promoting changes in healthy living behavior.

"But if public service advertisements are allowed for doctors who change people's healthy living behavior," he said.

Doctors who use social media are also warned to maintain the confidentiality of patient health information, as well as differentiate their personal accounts and those used for the public interest.

"We have warned accounts that are used to socialize media with the public being separated, and not put together. The doctor must also keep the patient's health a secret, that's an obligation," he explained.

Djoko asked that if people find a doctor who promotes products that claim healing, beauty and fitness without releasing his title' as a doctor on social media, they can report it to the nearest IDI by bringing along the available evidence.

This step was taken to maintain the integrity of the medical profession and prevent unethical practices in product promotion on social media.

Meanwhile, the doctor's ethical fatwa in social media was issued in Decree Number 029/PB/K/MKEK/04/2021 dated April 30, 2021.