Frequently asked questions
- What is the scope of application of medical advertising?
- How long does the review and approval process take for a medical advertisement application?
- Where can I obtain the medical advertisement application form? How should I submit it?
- What do advertising regulations specifically refer to?
- Is it necessary to file an application to the Health Bureau in order to advertise for a non-local medical institution?
1. What is the scope of application of medical advertising?
- Business advertisements published by health professionals and premises providing healthcare services under the private regime, as regulated by Decree-Law no. 84/90/M dated 31st December amended by Decree-Law no. 20/98/M of 18th May.
- Advertisements related to prostheses, medical or paramedical therapies and objects or approaches presented as having health benefits, as regulated in Article 16 of Law no. 7/89/M dated 4th September.
2. How long does the review and approval process take for a medical advertisement application?
- It generally takes 10 working days to complete the review and approval process for signs and billboards of private clinics and healthcare premises; under special circumstances, the approval decision will be made within 30 days at the latest from the day of receipt of the application letter.
- If the advertising content requires technical opinions from other professional departments, the above-mentioned period will be prolonged accordingly.
3. Where can I obtain the medical advertisement application form? How should I submit it?
The applicant can obtain the form in person at the Medical Activity Licensing Division of the Health Bureau, or download it from the Health Bureau website or Macao SARG Portal, and then submit the completed form to the Medical Activity Licensing Division (Address: 2/F, Block 1 of Edifício Cheng I at Rua Nova da Ilha Verde, Macau (Ilha Verde Health Centre).
4. What do advertising regulations specifically refer to?
- Specific advertising regulations for health professionals and healthcare premises are clearly specified in the “Advertising regulations for local medical professionals or entities that provide healthcare services in the private system of Macao” formulated by the Health Bureau.
- It is remarkable that the Health Bureau has issued a letter to the health sector in 2013, calling for attention of all health professionals to the advertising application concerning personal name cards. Personal name cards can be briefly divided into “calling cards” and “business cards”. A “calling card” primarily contains the social identity or title of an individual to serve the purpose of self-introduction or interaction in general social occasions; whereas a “business card” bears the individual’s occupation and business-related information, and is meant for business promotion. Therefore, business cards of health professionals are within the ambit of medical advertisement whose content must be reviewed and approved by the Health Bureau prior to display or distribution to the public. Apart from this, advertising of medical services via the Internet, newspapers, magazines or other promotional publications are only permitted after such advertisements are reviewed and approved by the Health Bureau.
5. Is it necessary to file an application to the Health Bureau in order to advertise for a non-local medical institution?
According to the provision of section 1 of Article 16 of Law no. 7/89/M dated 4th September, any advertisements promoting prostheses, medical or paramedical therapies and objects or approaches presented as having health benefits, must be authorized in advance by the Health Bureau. To find out more about the specific regulations, please refer to the “Advertising regulations for non-local medical institutions and medical equipment” formulated by the Health Bureau.