Advertisements for medical devices are about to come under increased scrutiny in Singapore, with regulators of the wealthy island nation tightening restrictions to ensure the truthfulness of claims made in marketing the healthcare products.
New guidance released in September by the city-state’s Health Sciences Authority (HSA), makes clear that manufacturers are responsible for ensuring that ads accurately describe the functions and features of devices they sell, that all claims are supported by evidence and data, and that advertising pitches are not misleading.
The guidance is supported by regulations that went into effect in Singapore this year. The regulations also prohibit doctors from recommending specific devices and advertisers from making negative claims about competitors.
Fines and other sanctions may be imposed on manufacturers who do not comply with the requirements.