The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has released new guidance on advertising restrictions for prescription medicines, with examples that place weight-loss injections, peptides and cosmetic injectables under the same broader compliance framework.
Published on 18 June 2026, Complying with the restrictions on advertising prescription medicines to the public is intended to help individuals and businesses understand when public-facing content may unlawfully promote prescription medicines.
The regulator also warned that public advertising can create inappropriate demand and undermine the relationship between patients and their treating practitioners.
From cosmetic injectables to weight-loss injections
While the advertising of cosmetic injectables has been a major compliance focus for aesthetic clinics in recent years, the new guidance makes clear that the same principles apply across a wider range of prescription medicines and related health services.
The TGA lists examples including cosmetic injectables, peptides, weight-loss injections, medicinal cannabis, intravenous drip therapies and erectile dysfunction medicines.
It also makes clear that businesses cannot avoid the prescription medicine advertising restrictions simply by using substitute terms.
The TGA makes clear that public advertising for prescription medicines can be unlawful even when it does not name a specific product. Direct or indirect references to prescription medicines, including trade names, substance names, acronyms, medicine classes, colloquial terms or associated imagery, amount to prohibited advertising when used in a promotional context. For example, an indirect reference such as ‘weight loss injection’, may still be considered a reference to a prescription medicine when viewed in context, even if no specific product or substance is named.
Booking systems, prices and social media in focus
The guidance sets out several types of public-facing activity that may amount to advertising of prescription medicines. These include promoting consultations for specific medicines, presenting a health service as a way to obtain a prescription, listing prescription medicines in public booking systems or product catalogues, publishing price information and using before and after photographs where the result is expressly or implicitly linked to a prescription medicine.
For clinics, the sections on booking systems and price lists are likely to be especially important. The TGA said providing a publicly available booking system or catalogue that details the availability of specific prescription medicines at a health service may amount to advertising of those medicines.
It also said that listing prices for treatments or services that involve or reference prescription medicines or substances, whether as a total treatment cost or cost per unit, is generally likely to amount to advertising.
The regulator also addressed telehealth and online prescribing models, noting that services presenting themselves as a pathway to obtain specific prescription medicines risk unlawfully promoting those medicines.
Promotional material placed behind a login feature, paywall or members-only area may still be considered advertising to the public unless it is directed exclusively to health professionals or shared within an established practitioner-patient relationship.
The TGA also warned businesses to consider third-party material they link to or share, including websites, articles, research papers, opinion pieces, social media posts and testimonials. Where linked or shared material promotes the use or supply of a prescription medicine, the business’s own material may also raise compliance concerns.
What remains permitted
The guidance does not prevent practitioners from discussing treatment options with patients in the course of clinical care.
Advertising directed exclusively to health professionals is also exempt from the public advertising prohibition, provided the material is directed only to health professionals. However, the TGA notes that advertising must still comply with all other legislative requirements, including restrictions on promoting off-label uses of therapeutic goods.
The regulator said including a disclaimer such as advising consumers to speak with a health practitioner about treatment options does not exempt public-facing promotional material from the advertising restrictions.
Businesses are being advised to review their websites, social media channels, booking systems, price lists, logos, email campaigns and third-party links to ensure they do not directly or indirectly promote prescription medicines to the public.
The guidance follows ongoing scrutiny of unlawful importation, supply and advertising of GLP-1 receptor agonists, compounded medicines, peptides and cosmetic injectables, amid increasing regulatory attention in Australia and internationally.
