Egypt’s media regulator bans circulation of content by late doctor Diaa Elawady over health risks

CAIRO – 3 May 2026: The Supreme Council for Media Regulation (SCMR) on Sunday ordered all media outlets, digital platforms, and social media pages in Egypt to stop publishing, broadcasting, or circulating any content attributed to the late doctor Diaa Elawady.

The decision came after the council received official requests from the Ministry of Health and the Egyptian Medical Syndicate warning that the circulating content could “harm public health and pose a direct risk to citizens” by promoting unverified medical advice.

Elawady was an Egyptian doctor and nutritionist who died in Dubai last month due to natural causes, according to the Emirati medical report.

Elawady gained significant notoriety for creating the controversial "Al-Tayyibat" weight loss system.

He promoted alternative health practices, including the controversial claim that patients should stop taking medication for some chronic diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure, leading him to face legal and professional consequences.

In March, the Ministry of Health has revoked Elawady’s license to practice medicine and closed his Nasr City clinic over spreading “misleading medical information.”

The ministry said the doctor was referred for investigation and disciplinary action after publishing misleading treatment advice that could pose serious health risks, including calls for diabetic patients to stop using insulin, in violation of established medical standards.

In a statement, the SCMR instructed media entities subject to Law 180 of 2018 to stop posting any audio, visual, or written material attributed to the late doctor, including previously recorded content.

It also tasked the pertinent monitoring department with tracking compliance and identifying violations across traditional and digital media platforms for legal action.

In addition, the council directed referring all violating links and content to the National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) to take the necessary urgent technical measures to stop their circulation.

The SCMR said it is coordinating with the ministry and the syndicate to issue new guidelines regulating doctors’ media appearances, in line with professional and scientific standards.

The guidelines are expected to be released later this month.

The authority urged the public to refrain from sharing or reposting the content, stressing the need to protect public health and ensure responsible media practices.