Russia. Advertising of healthcare services in general printed media may be permitted

The State Duma has adopted amendments to the Federal Law “On Advertising” in the first reading. The draft aims to exclude healthcare services from the list of items subject to advertising only at medical or pharmaceutical exhibitions, seminars, conferences and other similar events and in specialized printed publications.

Starting from January 2014 healthcare centers were prohibited to announce through general mass media their specific services and procedures offering. Currently a healthcare institution is not entitled to advertise its healthcare in general mass media. In the opinion of the State Duma deputies, this ban resulted in severe restrictions of consumers’ access to information on the healthcare services and in decrease of consumers’ awareness and possibilities to select the particular healthcare provider.

Source: KPMG-Russia