Google posted an update to its Healthcare and Medicines policy on 7 April 2026 (Google Ads policy). The country-specific rules will let certified online pharmacies promote prescription drug services in India. LegitScript announced on 8 April that Indian pharmacies can apply for its certification first, then for Google’s own (PPC Land).
- Certification comes first: LegitScript, then an application to Google. The review covers licensing, prescribing practices, privacy protections and advertising transparency.
- Ads can promote the service but not specific prescription drugs, in ad copy or on landing pages. Google’s page also states that advertisers targeting India may not promote prescription drugs.
- Google says it will not suspend an account without warning for these violations, and a warning will come at least 7 days before any suspension.
What this means for your clinic
This change is about pharmacies, not clinics, so there is nothing to apply for. The useful part for a clinic or hospital is the reminder that drug names in ad copy and landing pages are still a policy risk in India. Check your Google Ads and landing pages for medicine or brand-name drug mentions, and keep treatment pages about the service rather than the prescription. The 7-day warning period is a window to fix a flagged ad, so keep an eye on the email tied to your Ads account.
Sources: Google Ads policy update · PPC Land. The update is from April 2026, so treat it as background rather than breaking news.
