Ethical ways for physicians to market a practice in 2023

Eunice Victoria, founder of Skills to Grow Africa. [Courtesy]

Just like in the legal profession, traditionally, physicians are expected to abstain from marketing or advertising themselves in order to uphold the value of the profession. The reason is that advertisements are deemed to be misleading and influence potential clients.

In Kenya, this is governed under The Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board Act (Cap 254). Under this Act are the Medical Practitioners and Dentists (Practitioners and Health Facilities) (Advertising)) Rules, 2016, which outline that any advertisement in the profession has to be objective, true, and dignified, be respectful to the ethics of the profession, not attempt to denigrate other practitioners, and not infringe on patient confidentiality.