Burkina Faso / Health and the media: The CSC and the Order of Doctors join forces to combat information abuse
In an effort to ensure reliable health information and protect the population from the dangers of misinformation, the Higher Council for Communication (CSC) and the National Order of Doctors of Burkina Faso signed an agreement on Monday, June 30, 2025, in Ouagadougou. The ceremony took place at the CSC headquarters, in the presence of leaders from both institutions and the Chief of Staff to the Minister of Health.
This agreement aims to regulate health communication, particularly the dissemination of medical information in the media, whether it concerns conventional or traditional medicine. The objective is to ensure the accuracy of shared content, regulate advertisements related to healthcare, health products, and medical procedures, while complying with ethical standards and existing laws.
According to Dr. Abdoul-Guaniyi Sawadogo, President of the National Order of Doctors, this initiative addresses an urgent need to combat false information and misleading advertisements that can have serious consequences on public health. He emphasized the importance of close cooperation between the two institutions to build a responsible media environment. “Rumors, false information, and disinformation can have dramatic consequences. It is imperative that we join forces to build a wall of vigilance around health information,” he stated.
The partnership will last five years, renewable by mutual consent, and includes several areas of collaboration: sharing of information and alerts, technical support and expertise, promotion of best practices, awareness-raising on ethical principles, and detection of misleading content. The regulation will particularly cover media appearances by health professionals, advertisements for healthcare services, medical fees, and any health-related information disseminated to the public.
For his part, CSC President Wendingoudi Louis Modeste Ouédraogo reaffirmed his institution’s commitment to support the Order in this mission. He reminded that protecting public health is a legitimate limit to freedom of expression, and that the media must rely on verified information. The agreement also provides for mechanisms for amicable settlement of disputes and may be terminated in the event of non-compliance with the agreed commitments.
