Beijing plans to closely monitor fake and illegal advertisements for medical treatments and drugs on TV and radio, said the Beijing Industry and Commerce Bureau on Friday.

Doctors, pharmacists and experts are forbidden to promote the cure rates of medical treatments or medicines, according to the bureau.

The rate of illegal medical treatment ads increased by 1.65 percent to 5.88 percent among the total medical ads in the first six months in Beijing over the same period last year, it said, adding that illegal drug ads were also on the rise.

The bureau will ban hot-line communications between experts or doctors and patients on TV and radio stations and suspend their shopping programs introducing medicines, medical treatment equipments, and products regarding weight loss, breast enlargement and height enhancement.

The bureau will also improve the training and techniques used by law enforcement workers to detect illegal and false commercial ads.

A recent on-line survey, sponsored by the China Consumers' Association, indicated 67.8 percent of the 12,927 netizens surveyed said they had been victimized by fake and illegal advertisements in China.

A ban on commercials for weight loss, breast enlargement and other health and beauty products and treatments on TV and radio came into effect on Aug. 1, which was announced by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television and the State Administration of Industry and Commerce.

(Xinhua News Agency September 9, 2006)