Curbing False Claims in Advertisements for Body Detoxication

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for Health in view of the many body detoxification treatment advertisements (a) whether the Ministry regulates such claims in advertisements; (b) what is the Ministry's stand on companies that promote such treatments, as well as selling various foods claiming to detoxify the human body; and (c) whether the Ministry is aware of any medical evidence to support such claims.

Mdm Speaker, body detoxification treatments are generally not supported by medical evidence. My Ministry has adopted three key measures to ensure public safety.

First, health products and food are regulated by the Health Sciences Authority and the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority to ensure that they are safe for consumption or use.

Second, the Medicines (Advertisement and Sale) Act allows my Ministry to prohibit any advertisements and false claims relating to the treatment of medical conditions. However, we are also mindful not to unnecessarily restrict consumer choice, including gaining information on alternative health services. Hence, my Ministry has adopted a risk-based approach that focuses on controlling misleading claims relating to serious medical conditions that may result in patient harm directly or indirectly as the patient is delayed from seeking proper medical treatment.

This is on top of the general law protecting consumers and guidelines for advertising that apply to all advertisements in Singapore, including claims related to less serious conditions.

Third, the use of treatments in licensed healthcare institutions to remove specific toxins from patients' bodies is applicable only for specific medical indications, for example, heavy metal poisoning and where conventional therapy does not work. Medical practitioners who perform such procedures for other purposes may face disciplinary action. For treatments offered by non-

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medical persons, our licensing laws pertaining to medical practitioners and premises both prohibit the practice of certain procedures that are deemed to be medical, such as invasive procedures, by unqualified persons.

I would like to advise members of the public to be careful about the claims of treatments which do not have a strong evidence base and to be aware of the potential dangers of receiving such treatments. They should consult their doctors when in doubt.

Mdm Speaker, I would like to ask this: besides body detoxification treatment advertisements, we also see many other advertisements like for hair loss and weight loss. I would like to ask the Minister of State if the Ministry would consider amending the Act to further protect the interests of consumers.

Mdm Speaker, first, I have noted in my reply earlier that the Ministry adopts a risk-based approach under the relevant Act to protect against health risks and to ensure patient safety. We would enforce against serious medical claims for treatments that will affect patient safety, in terms of causing harm, whether directly or indirectly.

In addition to that, we are considering now looking at revising the list of medical conditions as well as diseases listed in the Schedule to the Medicine Sale and Advertisement Act in relation to claims for treatments, services and products. There is a list in the Schedule of the Act, and we are looking at revising this to include medical conditions as well as diseases on services and products offered by alternative medicine practitioners that will be prohibited in the advertisements to the public. That is to take into account the new and emerging alternative medicine treatments and the risks that they can pose to the public.