Why mandatory vaccinations remain under debate By Claire Wright   Vaccination is one of the most effective public health interventions in the world for saving lives and promoting good health. Only clean water, which is considered to be a basic human right, performs better. Vaccines are now available to protect against some types of meningitis…

Why I think rare disease companies are more patient-centric   All pharmaceutical/biotech companies are of course, in essence, patient-centric. However, I feel that companies specialising in rare diseases are often more patient-centric. It’s important to mention what I mean by patient-centric – that is – directing the company’s resources mainly to the activities which patients…

Embracing the demands of the empowered ‘consumer-savvy’ patient   Our access to information, which is now constantly at our fingertips and the explosion of new technologies has shifted the buying power to increasingly ‘consumer-savvy’ patients. These are patients who choose to navigate their dental and healthcare service acting as smart, well-informed consumers. The health of our…

A Spotlight on Healthcare Communications Advocacy   Earlier this year I received an email from Stefi Rucci asking me if I would mind if she nominated me for the Healthcare Advocate of the Year at this year’s Communique Awards Ceremony. I was flattered that she should think of me as a potential candidate, and honoured…

Lost for words? Try picturing this… by Mark Spain and Sharon Ombler-Spain   In today’s swirl of technology and big data we are constantly bombarded with information. Smartphones, tablets, computers, TVs – even our watches – make news and information instantly available 24/7. Whilst attention has been focused on the instant nature of information, the way…