Central and Eastern Europe: The Pharmaceutical Industry and Digital Engagement
We have previously examined healthcare and the pharmaceutical industry in Russia. The other markets of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE – usually considered to comprise the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Romania and the Balkan countries of the former Yugoslavia) are less often considered as a separate entity – either they are added on to [...]
Announcing the 3rd Annual Healthcare Engagement Strategy Awards
Since its launch in 2009, the Healthcare Engagement Strategy Awards have become a forum for sharing and identifying the world’s most effective strategies in healthcare engagement. Previous winners have included initiatives and people in pharmaceutical companies, NGOs, hospitals, televison broadcasters and social networks. What are we looking for? The 3rd Annual Healthcare Engagement Strategy Awards will [...]
The significance of cultural competence in the healthcare industry
In the midst of all this social media talk and the Internet being completely global, one of the essential aspects of effective healthcare delivery is often overlooked: the connection between clear communication and cultural background. When stakeholders come from different backgrounds, clear communication, and subsequently competent healthcare delivery may be hindered. It is important to [...]
The Russian pharmaceutical industry: Joint ventures and digital engagement?
We have previously looked at aspects of the drive to improve healthcare outcomes in Russia and considered channels such as telehealth, which are part of a wider governmental focus. Since 2005, $19 billion has been spent on improving the healthcare system and so far, various interventions and programmes have led to infant mortality being reduced by a [...]
Real World Data
With some interest, I have been following the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) innovation project looking at ‘Real World Data’. Just this month the ABPI launched its ‘Vision for Real World data’. One of the key drivers for the ABPIs project team overseeing this project is to better understand and define the value [...]
The new era of ‘pCRM’
This month, several passionate digital strategists convened on Brighton – in spite of the looming and blustering tail of Hurricane Irene blowing in hard from the south of England. My colleague Marie-Claire Wilson has commented on the day itself, however a highlight for me was my lunch-break conversation with Miguel Tovar, a pharmacist and consultant [...]
Managing a Social Media Crisis
Background In 2011, the organizers of e-Patient Connections Conference approached Creation Healthcare’s Founder, Daniel Ghinn, after the company’s analysis into recent social media crises in the healthcare arena. They asked if Daniel would prepare a workshop to equip communicators and business leaders in healthcare organizations to be better prepared to identify and respond to a [...]
HCSM Global Camp
This month, Paul Grant and I attended the Healthcare Social Media Twitter Community Global Camp (#hcsmgbc). This was the third annual event hosted by the community, and it demonstrated how the #hcsm movement has grown from interested individuals interacting on Twitter, to an informally-structured think tank. Twitter interaction around the topic of healthcare and social [...]
Pharma Mobile Strategy: Your Views, Please
In partnership with Eyeforpharma and Pharma Mobile Strategy conference, we’re researching current attitudes towards pharma’s use of mobile. We’d love to hear your views, and by sharing them you can help develop a picture of current activity and plans for mobile. Your response will be anonymous, and results will be published by Creation Healthcare and [...]
Pharmaceutical trust and online engagement
During August 2011, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) made an announcement that they intend to open to the public the information that is currently held in their EudraVigilance and EudraVigilance Veterinary databases. Since launching in 2001, EudraVigilance has provided a mechanism for a variety of stakeholders to report suspected unexpected serious adverse reactions (SUSARs) which [...]
How to avoid the pitfalls of digital channels
This week the PMCPA, the organization responsible for effectively policing the pharmaceutical industry’s Code of Practice in the UK, ruled that Bayer should be cited for promoting prescription-only medicines to the public via social media earlier this year. The case highlights the complexity of communication in today’s world of emerging channels, where regulated pharmaceutical companies walk [...]
Introduction to Digital Governance
In the pharmaceutical and medical device industries, control of digital activities – including social media – is paramount to avoid fines and ensure that proper strategies and structures are in place to maximise commercial opportunities. A four-step approach that is easily implemented, yet robust enough to help companies address the dual goals of reducing risk [...]
Open Innovation in the Pharmaceutical Industry
Amongst the most pressing challenges facing many research-based pharmaceutical companies are those of declining Research & Development (R&D) productivity and the need to make cost savings. Drug development is costly and lengthy – new drugs can require millions of dollars and can take over a decade to reach the market. In previous decades, traditional R&D methods have yielded blockbuster [...]
Pharma communication in a multi-regulatory world
Few could have predicted the way in which the Internet has changed the dynamic of relationships amongst healthcare stakeholders. For the pharmaceutical industry, it seems there is an opportunity to also play a role in the many online relationships which are made possible by the Internet. Despite the Internet being completely global and respecting [...]
Will new channels change your strategy?
Many articles have been written in recent weeks about the trend of the moment: Google Plus. Whenever a new platform or technology comes out, many predictions about its future are made. But do you trust predictions? Actually, it is interesting to read what people think about it because it helps us make our own decision [...]
Social Media in the Pharmaceutical Industry
Recently, I was a delegate at the SMi Social Media in the Pharmaceutical Industry conference in London. It was well attended by experts from industry, the NHS (UK National Health Service) and patient groups, and delegates benefited from a range of engaging presentations and lively discussions. Here are some of my highlights and points for reflection. The role [...]
Lessons from Google Health
As Google announced the end of Google Health last week, a little over three years since its launch in May 2008 promised to revolutionise health records management, thousands of health consumers might well have wondered what this means for the future of their personal electronic health records. The answer to that, says Google, is that [...]
Telehealth and pharmaceutical engagement
Telehealth is an exciting development in healthcare – it removes geographical and access boundaries, meaning that housebound patients, those in rural areas and people with health conditions who travel frequently can retain the benefits of rapid communication with healthcare professionals, wherever they are. In the UK, telehealth solutions are being taken up by a variety [...]
Language & culture: Two keys to global digital engagement strategy
In recent years, global digital engagement strategies have become critical for pharmaceutical companies operating all around the world. Global strategies need to fit each company’s culture, vision and purpose as well as their specific brands’ characteristics. And whilst digital channels have changed much about the dynamics of communication, digital engagement must be aligned with how [...]
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