Monrovia – The Liberia Medical and Dental Council(LMDC) has with immediate effect prohibited the advertisement of medical products and services that have not been approved by the Ministry of Health or the LMDC.
Advertisement of health products and services section 3.0 of the LMDC Act states that “No physician, Surgeon, Dental Surgeon or any allied health worker be it a Physician Assitant, Nurse, Lab Technicians, Traditional Medicine Practitioner, etc. shall at any time advertise any health product(s) in the print or electronic media. Any violator of this law shall severely be punished by the Liberia Medical and Dental Council.”
Addressing the regular press briefing at the Ministry of Information Cultural Affairs and Tourism, Dr. Moses Pewu of the LMDC stressed that the conduct of individuals advertising unapproved medicines in the media is against the code and ethics of LMDC.
He said only the Ministry of Health or the LMDC has the statutory authority to approve the advertisement of medical products or services.
“This behavior is criminal, illegal and contravenes all existing health laws and protocol in the Republic of Liberia. Anyone caught in such an act will be turned over to the Ministry of Justice for prosecution in accordance with the law.” Dr. Pewu said.
The Council is, however, assuring the public that health practitioners operating in the country will continuously be monitored, regulated and that any practitioner or entity failing to comply with the existing health laws and protocols, will be dealt with in accordance with the act that established the LMDC, he warned.