ReferenceGoogle Ads disapproval
Healthcare and medicines
Google restricts many healthcare ads by country, and some need Google certification or LegitScript or NABP accreditation. Prohibited items are marked Not supported. Read the country row for every place you target, apply for certification where it is required, and remove content that is not allowed in those places.
At a glance
- Where it shows
- The Status column on the Ads & assets page. Ads that target places where the content is not allowed show as Eligible (limited) and run only in approved areas.
- What stops
- The ad serves only in the countries where the content is allowed.
- How serious
- Egregious violations can lead to account suspension without warning and a permanent ban from Google Ads.
What it means
The policy restricts several kinds of healthcare and medicine advertising. Some content cannot be advertised at all. Other content is allowed only in certain countries, and only for advertisers who have applied and been approved.
Its country tables use three labels: Allowed?, Allowed with limitations, and Not allowed. Read the row for each country the campaign targets, not the page's summary.
What actually triggers it
An online pharmacy or telemedicine provider in a country that refuses it
Online prescribing, dispensing and sale of prescription drugs are restricted. Most countries allow them only with local registration and conditions. Poland prohibits all online pharmacy ads, and Ireland prohibits online pharmacies that offer prescription collection or delivery.
Prescription drugs offered without a prescription or outside a licensed location
Offering prescription drugs without a prescription, or targeting a location where you are not licensed, is treated as egregious.
Unapproved substances in the copy
Ephedra, certain hCG products, and products that imply they are as effective as prescription drugs are listed as unapproved substances.
US health or medical insurance without certification
Health and medical insurance advertisers in the US must be certified. Pharmaceutical manufacturers must be certified before their ads serve.
Fix it in this order
- For each country the campaign targets, open its section in the policy and read its row: Allowed?, Allowed with limitations or Not allowed.
- Remove the locations where the item is Not allowed, and remove any prescription drug term or service that is not permitted in the places you keep.
- Apply for the certification the business needs. Where the country requires it, use LegitScript or NABP accreditation.
- Edit the ad or asset, select Save, and check its status again.
When to appeal
Appeal a suspension if you believe the action was an error, and explain why the policy was not broken. The page says Google reinstates accounts only in compelling circumstances.
Certification is a separate route from an appeal. If the flag is for a missing approval, apply for the approval rather than appealing.
Often confused with
That page covers prescription drug names in ads, landing pages and keywords. This page covers the businesses and services, such as pharmacies, telemedicine and insurance, and the country tables.
That page covers supplements and products. This page covers prescription drug services, pharmacies, and insurance.