The “Regulation on Promotion and Informational Activities in Healthcare Services” (“Regulation”) was published in the Official Gazette dated 12.11.2025 and numbered 33075 and entered into force on the same date. With the entry into force of the Regulation, the “Regulation on Promotion and Informational Activities in Healthcare Services” (“Repealed Regulation”) published in the Official Gazette dated 29.07.2023 and numbered 32263 has been repealed.

The Regulation covers the promotional and informational activities carried out by healthcare professionals, private healthcare institutions, and international health tourism intermediary institutions.

The Regulation introduces new provisions differing from the Repealed Regulation in the following respects:

A- Fundamental Principles in Promotion and Informational Activities:

In the Regulation, advertising activities are defined as “any activities that highlight and promote a product, service, person, institution, or organization in connection with private healthcare facilities, the provision of healthcare services, or medical professions, and that exceed the boundaries of promotion and information.” It is stipulated that explicit or implicit advertising in the provision of healthcare services is prohibited.

However, promotional and informational activities may be carried out provided that the following principles and requirements are observed:

- Informational statements regarding the provision of healthcare services may only be made by healthcare professionals who are authorized in their respective fields. In promotional or informational content, healthcare professionals may not use or indicate any specialty title based on certificates or similar training documents obtained under any name, other than the primary and subspecialties determined under Law No. 1219. However, personal information relating to the professional’s education, Ministry-registered certificates, scientific publications, conferences organized, academic awards, administrative or consultancy roles, and memberships in national or international specialty associations may be included, provided that such information pertains to the specialty field stated on the diploma registered with the Ministry of Health.

- In written, visual, and audio media channels, as well as on social media platforms and websites, statements of appreciation or satisfaction by patients or their relatives regarding healthcare services may not be shared in a manner that constitutes advertising.

- Healthcare professionals or healthcare facilities may not engage in promotional or informational activities that exploit public trust or misuse individuals’ lack of knowledge by creating the perception that a device, product, or service related to healthcare is superior or different from others. Explicit or implicit promotion of any company, product, or brand is prohibited, and no internet links may be provided.

- Healthcare facilities and healthcare professionals may register on social media platforms or internet search engines provided that such registration is not paid, sponsored, or intended to increase prominence. Keywords used in search engines and the information appearing on the results page must not violate the principles set out in this Regulation.

- Healthcare facilities may conduct sponsored promotion and informational activities on all platforms for one month following their opening date, provided that such activities comply with the provisions of this Regulation. Promotional and informational activities regarding new medical technologies and medical methods recognized by the Ministry of Health as scientifically valid may also be permitted within this scope.

- Promotional and informational activities may not include information on prices, discounts, campaigns, or promotions.

Healthcare facilities and international health tourism intermediary institutions that are found to have engaged in promotional or informational activities in violation of these provisions shall be subject to the following administrative sanctions:

- First violation: An administrative fine corresponding to 1% of the facility’s gross service revenue for the previous month, not less than TRY 100,000, and a period of thirty days shall be granted to remedy the non-compliance.

- Second violation: The administrative fine shall be applied at double the amount, and a period of fifteen days shall be granted to remedy the non-compliance.

- Third violation: The outpatient clinic activities of the healthcare facility shall be suspended for a period of two days.

B- Use of Visual Content in Promotional and Informational Activities:

In the Regulation, information intended to protect and improve health refers to promotional and informational activities containing written or visual content that support individuals in increasing control over their own health and improving their well-being.

Accordingly, in the visual content shared by healthcare professionals and healthcare facilities for the purpose of protecting and improving health, it is prohibited to include images or expressions that highlight the healthcare facility or healthcare professional in a manner exceeding the limits of promotion and information, or that are misleading, contrary to facts or general moral rules, threatening to public health and welfare, violating personal rights and freedoms, exploiting a patient’s private or social life, or causing public concern.

The use of visual content belonging to patients requires obtaining the patient’s explicit consent and complying with the Patient Rights Regulation. Explicit consent may be obtained in written or electronic form by using the “Consent Form for Recording and Processing Visual Content” provided in Annex-1 of the Regulation.

Before-and-after medical images must be captured in the same environment and under the same technical conditions, and the date of the procedure as well as the date the image was taken must be indicated in the visual content. It is also mandatory to specify whether the shared images belong to the relevant healthcare professional and an actual patient, or whether they are sourced from elsewhere, and if sourced, the reference must be provided.

Regardless of whether they were created on another platform, visual content that constitutes advertising through expressions of appreciation or satisfaction by patients or their relatives regarding healthcare services may not be shared through written or visual media, social media platforms, or websites. User interactions such as comments, likes, and shares must be disabled for posts containing visual content.

In visual content used in domestic promotional and informational activities, the following warning, intended for caution and information and required to be easily readable, must be included: “Results of any surgical or interventional procedure may vary from person to person. It is recommended that you consult your physician for detailed information before the procedure.”

Healthcare facilities and international health tourism intermediary institutions that are found to have engaged in promotional or informational activities in violation of these provisions shall be subject to the following administrative sanctions:

- First violation: An administrative fine corresponding to 2% of the facility’s gross service revenue for the previous month, not less than TRY 100,000, and a period of thirty days shall be granted to remedy the non-compliance.