I have been watching a bit of TVM lately. I was pleasantly surprised over a few "health awareness clips" that I saw on the telly and would like to applaud TVM for the efforts.




I think this was a very good initiative by TVM and the medical people who have worked on the production. I hope to see many more such messages. Perhaps, we also need messages targeting rogue clinicians who use irrational treatment for some common paediatric conditions such as viral gastroenteritis and upper respiratory tract infections. I would also encourage some clips on the unnecessary practice of prescribing multiple vitamin supplements for well newborn babies.

On a different note; I am seeing a lot of TV ads promoting Medical Centers and Clinics these days. I mean real promotional ads, not the announcements made by some clinics about OPD timings of visiting specialists. I recall a discussion with some owners of private clinics and pharmacies, during a fund-raising campaign for the Maldivian Medical Association last year, when I was made to understand that there were some regulations preventing the clinics and pharmacies from promoting themselves or their products through advertising campaigns. I have not read the regulations, but based on the absolute absence of TV and other mass media advertisements promoting the private hospitals, clinics and pharmacies I realize that there must be such a regulation.

I wonder if the regulations have changed! Or are certain non-mainstream, non-allopathic clinics exempt from the regulations? I recall someone else writing about these advertisements too. I can't remember where though.