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Healthcare Products and Services

Policy​

Reddit allows advertisements promoting healthcare products and services, with restrictions. Healthcare advertisers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, licensing requirements, and industry standards. Advertisers must also take note of, and comply with, Reddit's policies on ad targeting.

This policy is subject to change at any time, and advertisers are responsible for making sure that they are up to date with the restrictions that apply. Some healthcare products and services require direct management from a Reddit Sales Representative. Contact Reddit sales, or schedule a call with us. 

Pharmaceutical drugs​

Pharmaceutical drugs are substances intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease. Ads for pharmaceutical drugs are allowed with restrictions. Pharmaceutical drug advertisers must be managed by a Reddit Sales Representative.

Prescription (Rx) drugs​

Prescription drugs are pharmaceutical drugs that can be dispensed only to those who have a medical prescription. Prescription drugs must be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 

Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs​

Over-the-counter drugs are pharmaceutical drugs that may be obtained without a medical prescription. OTC drugs must be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 

Compounded drugs​

Compounded drugs are customized medications that are prepared by a pharmacist, often by combining, mixing, or altering ingredients in accordance with a physician's prescription. Compounded drugs must be produced by pharmacies accredited by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) or facilities approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Medical devices​

Ads for medical devices are allowed with restrictions. All medical devices must be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and listed in the Devices@FDA Database. 

Pharmacies​

Ads for online and brick and mortar pharmacies are allowed with restrictions. Pharmacy advertisers must be managed by a Reddit Sales Representative.

Online pharmacies​

Online pharmacies that facilitate the sale of prescription drugs by accepting new, refill, or transferred prescription drug orders through remote ordering are allowed. Online pharmacies must be accredited by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP). 

Brick and mortar pharmacies​

Brick and mortar pharmacies with no links to online pharmacies are allowed. Brick and mortar pharmacies must be accredited by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP).

Healthcare providers and medical services​

Ads for healthcare providers and medical services are allowed with restrictions. All healthcare providers and medical services must be appropriately licensed and/or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or other relevant authority. Healthcare providers and medical services advertisers must be managed by a Reddit Sales Representative. Below is a non-exhaustive list of healthcare providers and medical services that are allowed and their restrictions:

Medical professionals and clinics​

Medical professionals and clinics must be appropriately licensed by all necessary and relevant regulatory authorities.

Telemedicine services​

Telemedicine providers must possess industry standard certifications. Medical professionals engaged in telemedicine services must be appropriately licensed as they would be at a regular clinic. Telemedicine advertisers must be managed by a Reddit Sales Representative.

Testing services and test kits​

Testing services that are performed on-site and in-person at a medical facility or lab under the guidance of a medical professional are allowed if they are appropriately licensed by all necessary and relevant regulatory authorities.

At-home, direct-to-consumer test kits such as pregnancy tests, blood sugar tests, genetic tests, and COVID-19 tests are allowed if they meet all regulatory requirements. Test kits must be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and listed in the Food and Drug Administration Database.

Clinical research​

Clinical research/studies must be registered on ClinicalTrials.gov.

Clinical trials must be conducted under the oversight of an Institutional Review Board (IRB) that is registered with the Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP). 

Addiction centers​

Addiction centers must possess industry standard certifications and must be run by licensed medical or health professionals. 

Supplements​

Ads for supplements are allowed with restrictions. Ads are subject to, and must comply with, all applicable healthcare and wellness industry standards, as well as relevant local laws and regulations. Ads for supplements must also:

  • Not make unsubstantiated claims
  • Not promise unexpected or unrealistic results
  • Not include before and after photos
  • Not imply prevention, diagnosis, or cure
  • Not imply that a supplement is as effective or more effective than an FDA-approved drug or medical treatment

Unsafe supplements​

Ads for supplements that contain the following unsafe substances are prohibited (this list is non-exhaustive and subject to change):

  • Anabolic steroids
  • Codeine
  • Ephedra
  • Human growth hormone (HGH)
  • Opioids

Birth control and family planning​

Ads for non-prescription birth control and family planning products such as condoms are allowed. Prescription birth control and family planning products are subject to the restrictions on prescription drugs and medical devices. In all cases, ads must focus on the clinical aspects of products, avoiding any references to sexual gratification and/or sexual pleasure.

Abortion​

Ads for general family planning services and ads for clinics that perform pregnancy terminations are allowed, however, termination services cannot be mentioned in ads. 

Weight loss products and services​

Ads for weight loss products and services are subject to the restrictions on prescription drugs and supplements. We never allow weight loss products that contain unsafe or dangerous ingredients such as ephedra, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), anabolic steroids, or any other substance that has been subject to government or regulatory action. Ads for weight loss products and services must also:

  • Not imply unrealistic, unsafe, or atypical weight loss outcomes
  • Not include before and after photos
  • Not reinforce unrealistic or unhealthy beauty standards, or contain body-shaming language

Cosmetic procedures​

Ads for cosmetic procedures are subject to the restrictions on prescription drugs and medical professionals and clinics. Ads for cosmetic procedures must also:

  • Not make false or exaggerated claims
  • Not promise unexpected or unrealistic results
  • Not include before and after photos
  • Not reinforce unrealistic or unhealthy beauty standards, or contain body-shaming language