YouTube has finally launched a verification system for UK-based doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals to help Britain dodge medical misinformation online.

The American online video sharing and social media platform added that a new seal of approval to accounts run by licensed doctors, nurses, psychologists, and other health practitioners or organisations who have passed stringent verification checks to fight misinformation.

YouTube Head of UK health, Dr Vishaal Virani said the move to verify health videos for UK users was crucial due to the number of citizens that access healthcare information through the video-sharing platform.

Virani told reporters; “whether we like it or not, whether we want it or not, whether the health industry is pushing for it or not, people are accessing health information online. “We need to do as good a job as possible to bring rigour to the content that they are subsequently consuming when they start their care journey online.’’

YouTube system began accepting applications from UK-based health care professionals to those with an active medical licence in June, as ccounts that applied to the verification scheme are now starting to receive their YouTube mark of authenticity of their videos.

According to the American company, the verification of health videos in UK would make it easy for users to know if the information has come from a qualified healthcare professional.

Potential health creators submitting their accounts have to go through a rigorous, multi-stepped verification process that works in partnership with the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and the National Health Service.