A recent and developing public health challenge, probably u…

A recent and developing public health challenge, probably unheard of two or three decades ago, is the threat of unverified medical advice from social media influencers. People with no medical background and with millions of followers offer health information through engaging content. In some cases, they get to the patients before their doctors do. Such unverified advice could promote incorrect self-diagnoses and inappropriate tests, medications and treatment modalities.

Qualified health professionals should come forward and be given platforms to offer verified health information to the public. In addition, strict regulations and close monitoring of uploaded content by influencers are the need of the hour to ensure that this public health challenge via social media, does not reach epidemic proportions in the coming years.