The Ministry of Health (MoH) has initiated legal procedures against a healthcare practitioner who appeared in widely circulated social media content promoting the injection use of an Exosome product in violation of the
Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) regulations and the product’s approved instructions for use. The practitioner also made claims regarding the product’s safety based on personal experience, contrary to regulatory requirements and the ethical standards of healthcare practice. This action is part of the Ministry’s ongoing regulatory efforts to strengthen compliance with health laws and regulations and safeguard patient safety.
The Ministry explained that the practitioner’s violations included promoting the product for a use that is inconsistent with its approved indication and instructions, making claims about its safety and effectiveness based on personal experiences and anecdotal reports from others, disparaging fellow healthcare practitioners, and publishing information that could influence beneficiaries’ decisions without providing complete scientific information regarding the product’s risks, limitations of use, and the professional regulations governing its application.
The Ministry confirmed that the necessary legal measures have been taken against the practitioner, including the suspension of their professional license, in accordance with the Health Professions Practice Law.
The Ministry stressed that disparaging fellow healthcare practitioners is inconsistent with professional ethics and that professional disagreements should be addressed through scientific, evidence-based dialogue grounded in mutual respect. It further emphasized that personal experiences or anecdotal accounts do not constitute scientifically accepted evidence of the safety or effectiveness of health products and should not be presented to the public as medical or therapeutic evidence.
The Ministry also noted that scientific evaluations, as well as any medical research or clinical studies involving human participants, are subject to approved ethical, scientific, and regulatory standards, including obtaining the necessary approvals from the relevant authorities to ensure participant protection and safety.
Finally, the Ministry urged the public to report health-related violations and improper practices through the 937 Call Center. It affirmed that it will continue monitoring health-related content published on social media, coordinating with the
Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) and the
Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) whenever violations fall within their respective jurisdictions, and taking the necessary legal actions to protect beneficiaries, uphold the integrity of the health professions, and preserve the ethical standards of professional practice.