New Delhi: Online misinformation about cancer is widespread in India, posing significant risks to public health and underscoring the importance of trust in science and medical professionals, according to a new report. The report, Health Misinformation Vectors in India, was unveiled during the Health of India Summit at the Shangri-La Hotel.
The study analyzed health-related social media content from October 2023 to November 2024, identifying four key areas prone to misinformation: cancer, reproductive health, vaccines, and lifestyle diseases such as diabetes and obesity.
Conducted by Spotlight, the Data Intelligence unit of DataLEADS, a New Delhi-based digital media and technology company, and doctors from First Check, a global health fact-checking initiative, the report shed light on troubling trends in health misinformation.
The findings reveal a growing mistrust of conventional medicine, with many people gravitating towards easily accessible, affordable natural remedies that often lack scientific backing. Experts noted that faith and local traditions also heavily influence health-related decisions, further complicating the issue.
The report aims to raise awareness about the dangers of health misinformation in India and the mechanisms that allow it to evade scrutiny and proliferate.
“Health misinformation has profound consequences, including delays in treatment, erosion of trust in medical professionals, and even loss of lives,” said Dr. Sabba Mahmood, co-founder of First Check.
She emphasized that individuals with life-threatening conditions are particularly vulnerable, as desperation often leads them to try unproven remedies.
On reproductive health, the report highlighted harmful discussions online, such as abortion through illegal and unsafe methods, which often go unregulated on social media platforms. It also criticized content promoting gender bias, such as tips for conceiving a boy child, and unverified advice on male sexual health, advising instead that individuals consult qualified andrologists.
The report warned that generative AI, such as chatbots, is making health-related misinformation harder to detect by presenting it in a more convincing and credible manner.
The authors called on policymakers to enforce stricter regulations on health-related content and enhance misinformation countermeasures. They advocated for training local health workers to address misinformation at the grassroots level and leveraging technology to improve health literacy, such as refining algorithms to prioritize credible information and swiftly remove harmful content.
