AMCU recommends pharmaceutical companies refrain from advertising coronavirus drugs

The Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine (AMCU) has demanded that advertisers, advertising holdings and television channels not create or distribute advertisements that may mislead citizens about the ability of medicines to prevent or treat coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the committee's press service has reported.

"AMCU demands that advertisers (drug makers), advertising holdings (those who create advertisements and/or place them in the media) and television (the largest public awareness channel) not create or distribute advertisements that may mislead viewers about the ability of medicines to prevent or treat COVID-19," the report said.

AMCU stressed that these pseudo-advertisements could mislead consumers because according to the World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, there are currently no confirmed drugs to treat the novel coronavirus.

The committee also recalled that misleading consumers is a violation of the law of Ukraine on protection against unfair competition.

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