KUALA LUMPUR, 29 December 2024 – In an effort to combat misleading advertisements, former Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali announced on 25 July 2022 that cosmetic product founders and sellers are prohibited from using the professional title “doctor” in advertising their brands and products. This decision is part of ongoing efforts to protect consumers from deceptive marketing tactics that exploit professional titles for promotional purposes.
Dr. Noor Azmi emphasized that using titles like “doctor” in cosmetic advertising violates the regulations set by the Ministry of Health (MoH) and could result in strict actions against offenders. The Ministry has made it clear that advertisements using such titles without valid credentials will be subject to cancellation and enforcement actions.
“The use of professional titles, particularly ‘doctor,’ is strictly regulated in cosmetic advertising. If a cosmetic product is linked to a professional, such as a doctor, the information will be forwarded to the relevant professional body for further action,” explained Dr. Noor Azmi. He further clarified that advertisements making exaggerated medical claims or exceeding the definition of cosmetics will face immediate penalties, including product notification cancellations.
The prohibition of using the “doctor” title aims to curb practices that mislead consumers, especially those who may be influenced by the false sense of credibility implied by such titles. The Ministry also reiterated the importance of adhering to the guidelines for cosmetic product advertising issued by the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Division (NPRA).
Following this, it is expected that Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad will continue advocating for stricter enforcement by taking decisive and drastic measures to prevent the misuse of professional titles in the cosmetic industry. Experts have urged the government to raise public awareness and implement tighter regulations to safeguard consumers from falling victim to misleading claims.
This initiative is seen as a critical step to ensure cosmetic sellers comply with ethical advertising practices and protect the public from products making unsupported claims.
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