Beware of health misinformation!

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Remember the good old days when most of the time only confirmed and reliable health information used to reach you. Your source of this information was through academic journals, books, newspapers, brochures, booklets, pamphlets, or your doctor's and health organizations. 

But the growing social media platforms has created hurdles in the reach of genuine information to the masses. Instead what reaches them is health misinformation through social media posts created by people who have no knowledge about health. These are quacks operating. And social media helps spread this misinformation like fire. This is dangerous. It is playing with the lives of people. 

Read here: Politicians vs doctors: believe whom?

Most of this information is false and not accurate. It can be misleading. Sadly, even governments assist in spread of this misinformation. Most politicians these days are illiterate and shameless who boast about past and have no vision for the present or the future. Moreover, such politicians also do not put on hold or curtail the spread of wrong information because the person spreading it is their own man. For instance, Patanjali in India is owned by a person who has no knowhow about health. He has no degree in it. One cannot go to the forest and learn things. Can they? So this Patanjali products are sold with misleading ads thereby affecting people's health and also pinching their pockets. 


This misinformation is not limited to India. It is a rising global problem. WHO bulletin states that most of this misinformation is online. 60% of these posts are on COVID pandemic and 51% are on vaccines. I will like to add that diet and exercise related misinformation is also highly prevalent on the internet. 

The weak minded people with less information or access to reliable news fall prey to this health misinformation. These people may have lost faith on the corrupt governments or doctors. Many do not believe evidence based western medicine and tout for cultural and traditional medicines that may be not only be ineffective but also harmful. Hence the environment is conducive for dissemination of this false information. 

Such misinformation can foil attempts to contain certain diseases and epidemics. There are innumerable examples of this: COVID pandemic, Ebola outbreak in Africa during 2014-2016 etc. Vaccine take could reduce such as during COVID pandemic and recently in Pakistan people are avoiding polio vaccine and hence polio eradication still remains a dream there. 

Huntsman Cancer Institute, USA studied and found that 33% of the information on Cancer posted online was inaccurate. 

 Steps to take

Steps to limit the spread of this misinformation should be coupled with efforts to build trust of people in proven treatments. Dissemination of accurate information should be done fast before social media posts can damage or thwart the good efforts. 

Involve local leaders in it. Make reliable information online available for people. People prefer YouTube channel. Post accurate information on this channel for all to read or listen. Moderate wrong information. Explain why what is said is right and what the misinformation can lead to. Make people aware to watch reliable and scientific channels and understand the ulterior motives of people who disseminate false information. 

Speak in language that people understand and comprehend. Bridge the gap through local help. Be persistent. It is not a one day action. Only continuous efforts will pay off. 

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