With the rapid growth of social media platforms and the advent of AI tools, there has been an unprecedented rise in the amount of medical advice shared online. While digital communication has expanded access to health information, it has also created serious risks: unlicensed individuals and automated systems are increasingly offering unsolicited medical guidance without accountability.

This trend has led to widespread misinformation, unsafe practices, and confusion among patients who may not be able to distinguish credible advice from harmful content. The consequences are especially severe in low-resource settings and Zambia is no exception, where online information may substitute for professional consultation.

To protect public health, it is essential that only licensed healthcare practitioners be permitted to provide medical advice online. Even licensed professionals should be required to include disclaimers when sharing personal opinions, ensuring that patients understand the difference between evidence-based guidance and individual perspectives.

This petition calls for regulatory action to safeguard patients, uphold professional standards, and restore trust in online medical communication. By limiting medical advice to licensed practitioners, we can reduce misinformation, prevent harm, and ensure that digital health spaces remain safe and reliable.

Let’s make the online space for our relatives spouses, friends and family medically safe one signature at a time

Once completed this petition will be passed on to the Health Professions Counsel of Zambia along with relevant policy makers to help better the medical digital laws