From cancer cures to sexual weakness fixes: ASCI flags 233 misleading health ads to AYUSH Ministry
05-Jun-25 06:20:54
Healthcare emerged as one of the most non-compliant sectors, with 370 advertisements investigated by ASCI – 56 percent of which were found to be “misleading due to a lack of honest representations.”
The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has flagged 233 advertisements for violating the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 (DMR Act).
These ads – referred to the Ministry of AYUSH – allegedly made claims of magical or guaranteed healing properties, raising serious concerns about the ethics and legality of health-related advertising in India.
ASCI’s mandate for ethical advertising is underscored by Chapter 3 of its Code, which prohibits the promotion of products or services banned under Indian law.
The data is part of ASCI’s Annual Complaints Report for 2024–25, which highlights a worrying rise in unverified, exaggerated, and often dangerously misleading health claims.
Healthcare sector: A key violator
Healthcare emerged as one of the most non-compliant sectors, with 370 advertisements investigated by ASCI – 56 percent of which were found to be “misleading due to a lack of honest representations.”
In addition to being legally questionable, such advertisements pose direct risks to patient safety, erode public trust, and compromise the integrity of medical communication.
The 233 health-related ads reported to the AYUSH Ministry were mostly found to be in breach of the DMR Act, which prohibits advertisements claiming to cure conditions such as cancer, diabetes, sexual weakness, and other ailments through magical remedies or assured outcomes.
These advertisements are not only misleading but also potentially harmful, as they may cause consumers to abandon evidence-based medical treatments in favour of unproven and possibly dangerous alternatives.
ASCI’s findings come amid a broader clampdown on ads promoting illegal or unethical products and services.
In total, the self-regulatory body referred 3,347 advertisements to government regulators – up from 2,707 the previous year.
While this includes ads for alcohol, offshore betting, and unregistered forex platforms, the DMR Act-related violations stood out for their direct public health implications.
Digital deception
In a digital landscape where consumer behaviour is heavily influenced by social media, influencer marketing continues to be a major area of concern.
ASCI reported 11 violations involving influencers in the healthcare space, where individuals promoted health products without disclosing paid partnerships.
Such non-disclosures can mislead audiences into believing the endorsements are personal or independent, rather than commercial.
The problem, however, is not confined to healthcare. ASCI’s Dipstick Study (September–November 2024) found that 69 percent of influencer posts across sectors failed to comply with disclosure norms.
Of the 100 influencer posts reviewed, only 29 percent carried proper disclosures, while 56.8 percent lacked any label, and 43.2 percent misused hashtags to obscure partnership tags.
Lack of transparency becomes particularly harmful when linked to health-related products. Consumers often place trust in influencers for wellness advice, making undisclosed promotions a matter of public health concern.
Greenwashing and exaggerated eco-claims
The report also examined the rise in greenwashing – making exaggerated or false environmentally friendly claims.
Among 211 advertisements scrutinised for environmental messaging, 19 were in the personal care category, which frequently overlaps with the health and wellness sector.
Terms such as “eco-friendly,” “sustainable,” and “plastic-free” are becoming more common in health-related branding. However, ASCI found that 100 percent of these claims lacked sufficient supporting evidence.
Such misleading claims can cloud consumer judgement, particularly when tied to products associated with health and personal wellbeing.
Even LinkedIn, typically viewed as a professional platform, saw an uptick in violations.
ASCI investigated 121 posts on the platform since January 2025, where brand partnerships were not disclosed.
These were mostly posted by senior professionals, consultants, and thought leaders – individuals generally held to higher standards of credibility.
In response, ASCI issued an advisory urging all LinkedIn users to follow digital media advertising norms under the Consumer Protection Act (CCPA), 2019.
Industry cooperation and enforcement
ASCI reported that 59 percent of violative ads were withdrawn or modified without dispute from advertisers, suggesting a growing awareness and willingness to comply with advertising norms.
Additionally, complaint resolution times were reduced by 46 percent, largely due to improved engagement from brands.
Nonetheless, in 14 percent of the most serious cases – especially concerning environmental claims and influencer disclosures – the matters had to be escalated to government regulators for failing to comply with ASCI’s Code and the CCPA.
Source & Credit : The South First