The Ministry of Health (MoH) has identified misleading information circulating on social media regarding statins, cholesterol-lowering medications, following the spread of a video discussing these drugs. The Ministry warned that such misinformation could lead some patients to stop taking their medication without consulting their physicians, putting their health at direct risk.
The Ministry affirmed that cholesterol-lowering medications, including statins, are safe and approved internationally as well as by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA). They are widely used to prevent cardiovascular diseases and strokes and reduce related complications. The Ministry stressed that treatment decisions should always be made under the supervision of a qualified healthcare professional and that stopping or using medication without medical advice may expose patients to serious health risks.
The Ministry also stated that the physician featured in the misleading content has been summoned to provide a statement regarding the circulated information. It added that legal procedures have been initiated against anyone found to have published misleading medical information or violated professional healthcare ethics, in order to protect public health.
MoH urged the public to obtain medical information from trusted and official sources and avoid being influenced by inaccurate information. It also called on media outlets to ensure accuracy when covering health-related topics and emphasized the importance of healthcare practitioners adhering to professional ethics and refraining from making unverified statements to safeguard community health and promote health awareness.