Promotion of Panadol by GSK Consumer Healthcare (UK) Trading Limited
Published 12 February 2021
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SUMMARY REPORT FOR PUBLICATION
18 December 2020 Promotion of Panadol by GSK Consumer Healthcare (UK) Trading Limited
A member of the public complained about a social media post advertising Panadol (paracetamol) from GSK Consumer Healthcare (UK) Trading Limited. The complainant alleged that the Twitter post promoted Panadol to the public without including the statutory particulars required in an advertisement for a medicine. Also, the post and website link directed at healthcare professionals (HCPs) contained misleading content about use of paracetamol to treat COVID-19.
The MHRA accepted that the post had been targeted mainly at healthcare professionals but upheld the complaint because the advertisement did not include the statutory particulars for an advertisement directed at persons qualified to prescribe or supply medicines. The company confirmed that they would ensure all future advertisements targeted at HCPs meet the statutory requirements. The MHRA did not uphold the complaint about misleading claims in the post and linked page as references to using paracetamol to treat fever and pain associated with COVID-19 are in accordance with recognised clinical usage.
Annex 4 of the Blue Guide sets out the statutory particulars to be included in advertisements to persons qualified to prescribe or supply medicines.