AIIMS Delhi Issues Social Media Guidelines: Bans Unauthorised Use of Name and Logo 

The era of medical professionals and students casually using the country’s premier healthcare brand to gain social media clout has officially come to an end. On June 22, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, issued a comprehensive and stringent social media policy aimed at protecting its institutional integrity. The sweeping guidelines now severely restrict what the medical community can post online when representing the institution.  

The Branding Ban for Medico-Influencers

The new rules explicitly prohibit students, resident doctors, faculty, researchers, and administrative staff from using the institute’s name, logo, or official emblem in any digital or print format without prior written approval.  

This restriction casts a wide net over the growing culture of medical influencers. According to the memorandum, the ban covers Instagram reels, Facebook handles, promotional videos, blogs, and event banners that might suggest an official representation of AIIMS. Even if formal permission is granted, users are legally bound to adhere strictly to the institute’s prescribed branding standards.  

Prioritizing Patient Privacy and Academic Integrity

At the heart of the new policy is an uncompromising stance on patient confidentiality. The administration firmly instructed the medical community to never post, share, or discuss patient information, photographs, or case details online. AIIMS emphasized that these disclosures are banned even if the patient’s identity is completely hidden, citing strict legal obligations under the Indian Medical Council Regulations, 2002, and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.  

Furthermore, the guidelines tackle the digital circulation of academic content. The institution has strictly prohibited the sharing of confidential academic materials, explicitly warning students against circulating examination questions and answer keys on social media.  

Strict Rules for Official Accounts and Takedowns

For departments, centers, and recognized student bodies operating official accounts, AIIMS has laid down a strict governance framework.  

 • Accounts must be officially registered with the relevant department.  

 • The administrative team must provide institutional email IDs and appoint a designated media coordinator for content approval.  

 • Pages must clearly distinguish whether the content is student-generated or department-generated.  

• Violators of these new directives face severe internal disciplinary action, which ranges from written warnings and suspension of access privileges to the complete derecognition of student bodies. The institute also introduced a rapid takedown mechanism, mandating that any non-compliant content must be deleted within 12 hours of receiving an official notice.

This is a highly necessary and overdue correction for the medical fraternity. Over the past few years, we have seen hospitals increasingly treated as content studios for social media clout. While outreach is important, blurring the lines between a doctor’s professional duty and an influencer’s content strategy is dangerous. Patient privacy is a sacred trust, not a prop for an Instagram reel. By drawing a hard line on institutional branding and patient confidentiality, AIIMS Delhi is setting a gold standard that every medical college in the country needs to replicate immediately.

Read full notice here: 👇

Dr. Pramod Dhakad

Dr. Pramod Dhakad is the founder and chief editor of MedSnaps, a dedicated news platform covering the medical community, healthcare policy, and the professional lives of doctors and medicos. Navigating the intense landscape of medical education themselves, they created MedSnaps to deliver fast, punchy, and relevant news that frontline clinicians, residents, and medical students actually care about.From breaking down NMC regulatory shifts and healthcare policy to reporting on critical campus updates, legal battles, and resident doctor welfare, Dr. Dhakad ensures the medical fraternity stays informed without the informational bloat. MedSnaps serves as a sharp, 2-3 minute daily news briefing for a community that doesn't have time to waste on generic reporting.

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