Authorities ban advertisement of non-existent ‘coronavirus cures’

The Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine has warned pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors, advertising agencies, television channels and other media outlets against advertising any medications as treatment for the novel coronavirus. 

Such ads deceive consumers, the committee said in a statement from March 31. There is currently no vaccine or cure from the coronavirus, according to the World Health Organization.

This virus causes a respiratory disease called COVID-19, which, as of April 1, has infected over 860,000 people in the world and killed more than 42,300. In Ukraine, there have been 669 confirmed cases with 17 deaths. 

The deceit of consumers violates the national anti-trust legislation and will ensue fines of up to 5 % of annual revenues of a company, the statement reads.

Since the beginning of the global COVID-19 pandemic, opportunistic pharma companies and sellers have manipulated public fears and little knowledge of the new disease. In Ukraine, advertisements for various antiviral medications, antiseptics and immune-boosting dietary supplements have surged on the internet and television, purporting to protect from or treat the coronavirus.

Read more: Coronavirus misinformation goes viral in Ukraine

Earlier, Ukraine’s largest online marketplace OLX told the Kyiv Post that it tightened its selling policy to prevent exploitation of the crisis and ensure public safety on its platform. No listings mentioning the word “coronavirus” are permitted except for books, clothes with prints, and pets if they are vaccinated from types of coronaviruses that only infect animals.