Google has dedicated advertising rules for healthcare and medicine. Pharmaceutical Ads targeting a specific destination have to follow set laws and industry standards.
Some healthcare-related content can’t be advertised at all, while others can only be advertised if the advertiser is certified with Google and targets only approved countries.
In order for online pharmacies to serve Google Ads, the company has to certify them. In addition, the pharmacies must be registered with the relevant pharmaceutical authorities in the countries that their ad campaign targets.
Google restricts but does not completely ban the promotion of services related to the online prescribing, dispensation, and sale of prescription drugs. Businesses subject to this policy include but are not limited to online pharmacies and telemedicine providers.
On this policy, Google states it “errs on the side of caution”
Countries Approved to Serve Pharmaceutical Ads
Notably, Google allows pharmaceutical manufacturers to advertise in 24 countries only. In these countries you are able to serve Google ads of some services related to prescription medicines.
Twelve of the countries are European with: Austria, Czech, Denmark, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
Four Countries in the Americas are Brazil, Mexico, Canada, and the United States. Asia has five countries that are China, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Taiwan with Oceania having Australia , and New Zealand on the list.
This makes Kenya Unique as the only country in Africa authorised to run promotions on prescription drugs.
However, Google has specific policies for each country when it comes to Healthcare and Medicines Ads on the platform. So, it is important to learn of the types of services that can be promoted and requirements for the country your Google Ads target.
