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MedWatch: what it checks in doctors’ online presence and what it means for you
Since September 2026, a digital tool from Greece’s Ministry of Health has been checking doctors’ websites, social media and ads across Greece. See what it looks for, what a “red” finding means and who makes the final decision.
What is MedWatch?
MedWatch is an AI-powered digital tool that the Ministry of Health presented on 18 September 2026. It scans the online presence of licensed healthcare facilities, meaning websites, social media and paid ads on major platforms such as Google and Meta, and compares it with what the legal framework allows.
The main yardstick is the Code of Medical Ethics and the official registers: who is a doctor, what specialty they have and what their licence allows. It started with the facilities of the Athens Medical Association and is gradually expanding across the country. The big change is that the checks no longer wait for a complaint. They run systematically, across thousands of facilities at once.
What it looks for
Based on what the Ministry has announced, MedWatch focuses on specific types of findings:
- A specialty or procedures that don’t match the licence or specialty of whoever promotes them.
- Non-doctors advertising medical procedures.
- Paid ads for medical procedures online.
- Treatments that may not be advertised, such as injectable aesthetic treatments.
So it doesn’t only look at whether someone “advertises”. It also checks whether what their site and social media say matches what they officially are.
What the first checks showed
Within a few weeks, MedWatch had checked thousands of facilities in Attica and Thessaloniki. Most findings were “yellow”, meaning professional ethics issues, while “red” ones were far fewer. Separately, it recorded non-medical businesses advertising medical procedures such as mesotherapy, laser and injectable treatments, as well as dental practices promoting injectable aesthetic treatments, mostly hyaluronic acid. According to the minister, new online ads for medical procedures fell sharply within the first weeks.
The numbers change as the checks spread to new areas, and the current figures are announced by the Ministry of Health. But the picture from the first checks is clear: few serious findings, many ethics issues that need fixing and far fewer ads for medical procedures online.
“Red” or “yellow”: what a finding means
MedWatch ranks findings by severity. “Red” ones are possible serious violations, while “yellow” ones mostly concern ethics issues that need fixing.
The most important point: a finding is not a decision. The Ministry itself stresses that it is an indication. Findings about doctors go to the medical associations, which have the final say, while those about non-doctors go to the National Transparency Authority for review. From there, the association examines the case and, only if it finds a violation, may start disciplinary proceedings. And to put things in perspective: “red” findings concern a very small share of the facilities checked, and the minister has stressed that those who break the rules are few.
Where doctors usually slip up
Most doctors who end up with a “yellow” never tried to break the rules. It’s usually things nobody ever looked at from this angle:
- Old copy on the site, written years ago by someone else.
- A description of the specialty or services that doesn’t exactly match the licence.
- Sponsored posts or collaborations with influencers.
- “Before and after”, patient testimonials or “offers”.
- Profiles on platforms and on Google Business Profile with the wrong category or outdated details.
What they have in common is that a doctor’s online presence grows over the years, in many places, and is rarely reviewed as a whole.
What’s coming
The Ministry has announced that the checks are expanding to other health professions too, such as dentists, physiotherapists and dietitians. At the same time, the Athens Medical Association has proposed that no public promotion of medical procedures be allowed without its prior approval. Whatever form it finally takes, the proposal shows that the rules are getting stricter, not looser. For doctors, this means that an online presence that bothers no one today could end up “yellow” tomorrow.
Frequently asked questions about MedWatch
Should I shut down my social media?
No. Educational content, which explains rather than sells, is not advertising, and many doctors do very well with it. The problem is paid promotion and anything that promises results.
Who decides whether I’ve committed a violation?
Your medical association. MedWatch gives indications. It doesn’t impose sanctions.
Someone else built and manages my website. Am I responsible?
Yes. The Code judges promotion carried out on the doctor’s behalf, whoever set it up. That’s why it’s worth knowing what your site, social media and profiles say, even if you don’t manage them yourself.
Does it also cover clinics and diagnostic centres?
Yes. It checks licensed healthcare facilities in general, not just private practices, and is gradually expanding to other health professions too.
MedWatch is no reason for a doctor to disappear from the internet. It’s a reason to know what their online presence says about them before someone else reads it. At CNCTECH we review sites, social media and profiles through the lens of the Code, so you know what’s worth changing.
This article is for information only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific cases, contact your medical association or a legal adviser.
