Health Ministry Calls for Licensing of Social Media Health Information Providers

Individuals Providing Health Information on Social Media Must Be Licensed, Ministry Says

The Ministry of Health has warned that some individuals are using media platforms to persuade patients to stop their prescribed treatments, leading to life-threatening consequences, through both traditional and religious means.

In recent years, the ministry has worked to ensure the accessibility of health services, focusing on disease prevention and health promotion, said Deputy Health Minister Dr. Ayele Teshome in an interview with Bsrat Radio and Television. He emphasized that strengthening private sector participation, improving primary healthcare accessibility, and enhancing regulatory systems will be prioritized moving forward.

The ministry has observed that both professionals and non-professionals are disseminating information on various social media platforms, misleading the public. It stressed that merely being a professional is not enough to provide health information.

Dr. Ayele added that health professionals must obtain permission to discuss and analyze health-related topics on social media. He also stated that information providers must take responsibility for any problems arising from their content. The ministry noted that some social media practices violate patient rights and exploit users for profit, labeling such actions as illegal.

To address these issues, the ministry has concluded that attempting to solve and regulate these problems simultaneously could harm the health sector. Therefore, it has begun collaborating with legal entities and media officials to find solutions and enforce accountability.

Previously, the health system faced challenges due to a lack of information. Now, the issue has shifted to the overwhelming spread of information and concerns about its accuracy.