Since the announcement of the NHS reform plans last month there has been much talk of the consequences and implications that will be felt from the departure of the NHS we know today.
One discussion that particularly caught our attention was that which approached the challenges and opportunities that the reform will offer the pharmaceutical industry.
There are a number of hurdles for the industry. For example, they will face strict budgetary management and the effects of clinical commissioning by GPs. In addition, pharma companies will now have to liaise with 500 GP consortia after the abolishment of Primary Care Trusts (PCT) (of which they needed only to engage with 150 pharma-savvy parties).
Importantly though, there are also several opportunities to be grasped here. For example, GPs will need advice on how best to approach their new commissioning roles and there will also be greater opportunities to work within the private sector.
We’ve only slightly touched on the many implications of the reform, but you can find out more through organisations such as Visions4Health. In order to overcome such challenges and make the most of the opportunities, it’s clear that pharmaceutical companies need to competitively position and promote themselves within the new NHS. And this inevitably starts with effective, focused and long-term communications and marketing strategies alongside clear brand articulation.
We’ve worked with a number of pharmaceutical organisations including GlaxoSmithKline and AstraZenica as well as the NHS and a number of independent healthcare practitioners. If you’d like to speak to us about how we can help you embrace upcoming changes in the industry please contact Harriette Hobbs on 0117 9371 383 or [email protected]