03/12/2025
Social Media: Guidelines for Practitioners 📱
Social media is a common platform for advertising, but health practitioners must still comply with HPCSA rules and ethical guidelines. ⭐️
❌ This means we cannot offer specials, discounted rates on consultations, or benefits unrelated to our practice (which is considered touting), nor can we post any information that draws attention to personal abilities, experience, service quality, or makes claims such as being the “best” in the field, or exchange health services for social media publicity. This is considered canvassing.
❌ These prohibitions on touting and canvassing also apply if they are carried out by third parties within a practitioner’s workplace. For example, advertising perks like free Wi-Fi during consultations counts as canvassing because it’s not directly related to the healthcare service.
According to the HPCSA, practitioners are allowed to advertise their services as long as the information is professional, truthful, not misleading, and doesn’t cause unnecessary worry about health conditions. 💙
Please refer to the HPCSA booklets:
Booklet 16: Ethical Guidelines on Social Media (March 2025)
https://www.hpcsa.co.za/e882d53f-6e0b-4013-9693-19e785d34372
https://www.hpcsa.co.za/d797158f-1bf8-4127-ab11-d492da692410
