Category: Health
Which direction for EU health policy after the pandemic?
Sture Alne
& Augustin de Trogoff
The institutional questions the pandemic has raised about the EU’s role in health will not disappear. With the forthcoming revision of the EU pharmaceutical legislation, larger EU countries may jump at the chance to grab the Health Commissioner role and set the direction of the European pharmaceutical market for decades to come. The nationality of the next EU Health Commissioner, then, may end up being the proof in the pudding of whether EU Member States truly value EU health policy more than they used to. ..
Read moreLessons Learned From the World Health Summit 2022
Enrica Mertens
& Rosh Marius Singh
APCO’s Germany team was on the ground in Berlin to cover the latest developments on the global health agenda...
Read moreAdvanced Medtech in India
Avantika Singha
& Dr. Niranjan Pai
Advancements in technology have unearthed vast potential to galvanize the Indian health care landscape...
Read moreWhy Respiratory Health Is at the Core of Climate Change
Roberta Sadauskaite
Climate change leads to prolonged heat waves, increased length and severity of the pollen season and more which put human health at risk...
Read moreHealth Care Disruption Is Here: A Few Considerations for Disruptors
Randi Towns
We are in a constant whirlwind of industry updates that fundamentally change the way health care is delivered...
Read moreRight Under Our Noses, Routine Vaccines Are Under Attack—A Lesson in Effective Communications From Anti-Vaxxers
Marie Cocco
The World Health Organization (WHO) listed vaccine hesitancy as one of its top 10 threats to global health in 2019...
Read moreHow Hospitals Can Build Their Brands in a Time of Disruption
Mathew Shearman
Solidifying a hospital brand requires a clear narrative, consistent storytelling and a boldness to work with partners in new ways. ..
Read morePost-pandemic Medical Travel and Tourism–Will It Return To What It Once Was?
James Tyrrell
& Stephanie Tan
The reopening of borders is a particular relief for those travelers relying on foreign healthcare and providers themselves...
Read moreRemote Patient Monitoring Could Finally Actualize the Potential of Wearables
Mathew Shearman
The acceleration of remote health care could be one of the most sustained innovations to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic...
Read moreEight Rules for Communicating Public Health Risk in a Crisis–From Horsemeat to Covid
Lydia Martin
By evaluating government communications during threats to public health, we can identify fundamental rules for communicating risk...
Read moreTen Ways to Improve Pandemic Communications
Wayne L. Pines
Here are 10 recommendations for how we could do a better job of educating the public about the pandemic...
Read moreThe Ukraine Conflict–The Challenge for Pharma
James Tyrrell
With no quick end to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, life sciences companies are increasingly being challenged to navigate this complex geopolitical crisis...
Read moreCOVID-19’s Unending Impact on the Maternal Mental Health Crisis
Katie Milgrom
As we continue to ride out the waves and variants of the COVID-19 pandemic, we must reckon with the current and ongoing maternal mental health crisis...
Read moreNow Is the Time for Businesses to Guide the Future of Telehealth in Japan
Kanako Noto
The private sector keeps accumulating knowledge on the use and potential issues of telemedicine, which policymakers need in order to develop a framework...
Read moreUntangling Vaccine Diplomacy
Diego de Leon Segovia
The influence of COVID-19 vaccinations extends beyond the pandemic, changing how we conduct scientific research, travel and even geopolitics...
Read morePreventing and Fighting Disease Through Food Security
Dan Glickman
With global leaders understanding the impact of food security on the global economy, we must adjust our understanding of how to combat food insecurity...
Read moreEquipping a New Generation of Whole-Health Citizens
Nancy Turett
We must raise a new generation that is health-literate, and empower the fresh, open minds and hearts of young people to help lead the way...
Read moreThe Future of Digital Health: Policy, Privacy and Access
Emily Scherberth
Without changes in policy, privacy & access to care, the adoption and further expansion of digital health services, may be limited...
Read moreBuilding a Successful E-hospital Industry: Lessons from China
Nina Zholudeva
In China, e-hospitals were already widespread prior to COVID-19, with the pandemic providing further impetus for their development and continued adoption...
Read moreArtificial Intelligence In Health Care Is Exploding – What Does It Mean?
William Pierce
We are on a pathway toward great discovery in the diagnosis and treatment of human diseases. AI is is expected to play a crucial role..
Read moreDigital Health in India–Its Advent and Rise
Dr. Joyeta Ghoshal
India launched the Digital India campaign to transform the country into a knowledge economy, with on-the-go access to information, governance and services...
Read moreThe Challenges and Growth of Telehealth in Japan: Is it here to stay?
Kanako Noto
The COVID-19 pandemic has sparked active discussions on the dissemination of telehealth in Japan, among both the public and policymakers...
Read moreVaccine Passports or Certificates: In One Form or Another They May be Here to Stay
William Pierce
& Wayne L. Pines
One of the tools available to us to help achieve durable control over the virus is what is referred to as vaccine passports or certificates...
Read moreAlgorithms for Good
Bruce Ramshaw, M.D.
There are many algorithms developed to do good but lack an understanding of the data science principles that allow them to benefit all people. No algorithm is perfect, but there are ways to design algorithms that can improve outcomes for all people over time. ..
Read morePost-Pandemic Healthcare and AI Transformation
Sharon Alvares
To what extent will AI-aided systems replace or augment existing technologies as the role of frontline care staff is being reshaped by computers that can monitor cases, analyze data and directly deliver basic care...
Read moreLessons Learned from One Year into COVID-19
Linda Barnhart
We have now arrived at a significant milestone where companies and organizations should take stock of what’s worked, what hasn’t and what they can and should be doing to prepare themselves for the next “unprecedented” event...
Read moreImproving Global Healthcare Access to Accelerate What’s Right
Stephanie Tan
If COVID-19 has a lesson for us with regards to health, it is this: our social environments matter just as much as our DNAs and lifestyle choices. Experts are cognisant of the fact that joblessness, lack of education and racial inequities are part and parcel of the problems that need to be fixed...
Read moreThe Biden Administration’s First 100 Day Healthcare Agenda: Pandemic, Pandemic, Pandemic
William Pierce
While the Biden administration can be expected to have a robust healthcare agenda beyond the first 100 days, the president understands that getting the pandemic under better control is critical to making progress on other issues. As a result, his first 100 days will be all about the pandemic...
Read moreFor Health, 2021 Will Be More Than a New Year…it Will Be a New Era
Nancy Turett
2020 has delivered certainty to us all about health. We now know that it is an existential asset not only for individuals but for business and society as a whole. Now, as vaccination makes working, playing and loving without wearing a mask a realistic prediction for 2021, leaders of all ilk need to make operating as the one humanity we are a new status quo...
Read moreHow Can We Make European Health Data Governance Models More Patient-Centric?
Gregoire Zammit
The COVID-19 crisis has been an eye-opener for many stakeholders, especially national governments, and has revealed that sharing health data is essential for enabling positive health outcomes and more sustainable health systems in Europe...
Read moreHow to Achieve Healthcare Celebrity Status
Julie Orsini
As a global population, we’re leaning in to science and the scientific community more than ever before—representing a critical inflection point for healthcare communicators and marketers...
Read moreThe Need for a European PASTEUR Act
Sture Alne
The effect of existing antibiotics has perpetually diminished due to increasing development of resistance, hence securing a robust pipeline of new antimicrobials is more important than ever...
Read moreEurope's Strategic Autonomy
Christoph Mielke
& Gregoire Zammit
It has been a buzzword for several years, but the concept of Europe’s ‘strategic autonomy’ has really gathered more attention over the last months in light of the COVID-19 crisis...
Read moreMore to UK Health Reforms Than Just Obesity and COVID-19
Burhan Al-Gailani
& Lisa Neiss
& Gabriel Phillips
Two major reforms to the UK’s public health system were announced in recent weeks—refreshed efforts to fight obesity, and the creation of a new body specifically to prevent a second wave of COVID-19. Both announcements represent an evolution, rather than a revolution, but are arguably more interesting for what they say about Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s approach to government, and how businesses should engage with his administration...
Read moreRecap: Brazda Breakfast Briefing with Dr. Anthony Fauci
William Pierce
At the August 6th Brazda Breakfast briefing, an event sponsored by APCO and hosted by our partner, The Alliance for Health Policy, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci walked over 60 reporters through what we know now about COVID-19, how it spreads, where it is spreading, the status of vaccine development, and most importantly, what we all can and should do to slow the spread...
Read moreWhat’s Next for U.S. Drug Pricing and Production
Jack Kalavritinos
Watch the discussion of the policy and political ramifications of recent executive orders, how drug pricing actions will resonate considering the pandemic and which of these policies might move forward in 2021...
Read moreCOVID-19 Made the Case for More EU on Health, but will There be any Meaningful Changes?
Christoph Mielke
& Gregoire Zammit
The COVID-19 crisis has given a boost to those who want the EU to play a bigger role in health. Only time will tell if EU Member States are really willing to take the jump and commit to a true “Europe of Health.”..
Read moreHow Can Health Systems Come Back Stronger From the COVID-19 Pandemic?
William Pierce
& Kavita Patel
& Peter Urbanowicz
The COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally impacted how health systems and hospitals operate. In a recent roundtable discussion, APCO Worldwide Senior Director Bill Pierce spoke with APCO International Advisory Council Members Kavita Patel and Peter Urbanowicz about what health organizations must do to Come Back Stronger from this crisis...
Read moreChallenges and Opportunities for Health Companies in the Post-Pandemic Era
Katie Milgrom
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to keep countries around the world under lockdown, there is an increased focus on the health sector, from the brave frontline health workers and critical researchers to biopharmaceutical companies and academic institutions racing to find a treatment and vaccine. The pandemic has highlighted, albeit in a painful manner, the critical role of these healthcare professionals in ensuring a healthy, productive society, the continued need for innovation and access to essential health services...
Read moreProtecting Reputation and Engaging Healthcare Workers During and After COVID-19
Richard James
COVID-19 is creating challenges never seen before in many of the nation’s hospital health systems. The new normal is creating a threat to staff health, morale and confidence in their leadership...
Read moreAmericans’ Views on Key Healthcare Topics Evolve During Crisis
Chrystine Zacherau
New research from APCO Insight explores is how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting Americans’ attitudes and behaviors related to healthcare, measuring their views on the resilience and evolution of healthcare systems and the value of vaccines...
Read moreA ‘New Normal’ for Healthcare Communicators Post COVID-19
Sara Cruz
As painful, bewildering and traumatic as the past few weeks have been for businesses and society at large, one thing is clear: what we should really be hoping for is a return to ‘a new normal’—a world where we apply the many learnings of the current crisis and emerge stronger...
Read moreMaking Healthcare as Diversified as we Need it to Be
Nancy Turett
If there’s one silver lining to the dark pandemic cloud hanging over all of us, everywhere, it’s that we can apply the rude awakening to our shared vulnerabilities to accelerate a more proactive, preventative and protective approach to health...
Read moreGulf Employees Look to Governments for COVID-19 Guidance
Mamoon Sbeih
New research from APCO Insight shows that concerns about the impact of COVID-19 are high in the Arabian Gulf...
Read moreKey Lessons from China's Coronavirus Epidemic
Stig Albinus
While Chinese and global public health officials fight the current coronavirus epidemic, it is important to step back and examine the underlying causes of this outbreak. We are likely to see a continuation of infectious disease outbreaks and epidemics in the future and learning from this epidemic may help prevent or mitigate the impact of future epidemics...
Read moreDelivering on the Promise of AI in Healthcare
Christoph Mielke
Panelists agreed that the priority should be to ensure Europe’s capacity to compete in AI and to develop a good framework to attract investment, and incentivize industry involvement and innovation in healthcare. ..
Read more2020 and Drug Pricing
Jack Kalavritinos
In the United States, the issue of how to address prescription drug pricing will certainly be a hot button topic ahead of the 2020 election. The time is now for pharma companies to act and offer real and impactful solutions that help patients, while calling out elements of the healthcare system that create barriers to access in exchange for profit...
Read moreHow Health Companies Can Promote Shared Decision Making
James Tyrrell
Patient consumers are increasingly influencing the future of healthcare. In this competitive and democratized environment, health providers and companies need to become more agile in the way they communicate...
Read moreThe Role of Multilateral Institutions in Global Health
Andrei Goldis
With the global health community closely watching the UN's milestone High-Level Meeting on universal health coverage, Andrei Goldis takes a closer look at the World Health Organization's role in the evolving global healthcare landscape...
Read moreHealthcare Progress Hidden in Plain Sight
Jack Kalavritinos
In healthcare, change is everywhere, affecting every patient and healthcare provider. More changes are coming, all with very few Rose Garden signing ceremonies. Buckle up for more change in 2020...
Read moreAI in Healthcare: Hype or Hope?
Stig Albinus
AI has a huge potential to revolutionize healthcare, but over-hyping AI can undermine the credibility of the promise...
Read moreHow C-Suite Vision and Values Affect Employee Health and Wellness
Christoph Mielke
In a world where companies are desperately trying to attract talent, the bottom line is simple: when employees feel better, they perform better...
Read moreRole of the C-Suite in Ethical Decision Making
Lily Reisser
While it’s less common to see someone getting praised in the press for their adherence to strict values, every health company we admire has a strong hand at the helm, guiding the company towards more ethical positions and setting an example for employees to make ethical decisions every day...
Read moreCan We Cannabiz?
Lauren O’Leary
Cannabis is quickly becoming the “next big thing” on the cusp of breaking through all aspects of society: from medicine and beauty to food and beverages. Here are three key elements for brands and communication professionals to consider when prepping for its U.S. market entry...
Read moreBriefing on the Medicare for All Proposal
William Pierce
At APCO’s recent Brazda Breakfast Briefing, health care experts, along with two former administrators for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, took questions from reporters about “Medicare for All” proposals...
Read moreThe Tantalizing Promise of Machine Learning in Medicine
Stig Albinus
There are reasons to be optimistic and excited about the promise of machine learning in medicine, but the path and speed towards wider implementation is hard to predict...
Read moreA Look at the Future of Health with Views from APCO’s Team
Caroline Starke
& Nicole Monge
& Stephanie Tan
& Seiko Indo
To better understand the future of health care, members of APCO’s global team took a closer look at the industry and shared analysis on the issues that will define the sector moving forward...
Read moreLeading with Purpose in the Business of Health
Nancy Turett
The reality is that companies in the business of health have their purpose built-in: they exist to generate health. The question their leaders need to ask themselves is not how do we define our purpose but rather, how do we deliver on it? ..
Read moreHealth Care Leaders are not Prepared for the Future
James Tyrrell
To better understand the future of health care, and the challenges the industry faces, we surveyed a select group of 18 members of APCO’s International Advisory Council (IAC) and Health Advisory Board (HAB)...
Read moreWhat’s Next for Health Care on Capitol Hill?
William Pierce
When it comes to understanding what could happen in health care over the next two years, the guiding principle is maybe. Maybe the two sides will come together on a modest package of changes to federal law, or maybe they won’t. ..
Read moreThe Future of Health
James Tyrrell
Health is always undergoing change – what is new today, will certainly be old by tomorrow. Actors in the industry need to understand how patient preferences are evolving and driving innovation...
Read moreHealth Companies can Drive a Hopeful Future
Chrystine Zacherau
Two in three Americans (65%) believe health companies are making a positive impact on society, according to an APCO Insight poll. We took a closer look to investigate and understand what – and who – is driving this hopeful view...
Read moreDenmark Proposes Health Care Reform for Connected Care
Stig Albinus
As planned, the Danish conservative government last week published its proposal for a new health care reform in Denmark called "Patient First," intended to make the health care system in Denmark more patient-focused, better connected and with advanced quality of care and improved patient rights. ..
Read moreWhat U.S. Health Care Can Learn From the Denmark
Stig Albinus
Population health has become a pivotal strategic focus for health systems and large provider organizations in the United States as they strive to improve quality of care and reduce costs for the entire patient care journey and focus on maintaining health and well-being of the patient population through preventative care - not just acute care...
Read moreWill a Single-Payer System will Lead to Rationing
Stig Albinus
Majority of U.S. health care providers and opinion-leading consumers say single-payer system will lead to rationing of access to health care...
Read morePharma’s French Conundrum
Alexandre Marie Saint Germain
& Antoine Guery
After nearly a decade of the French government trying to steadily decrease the price of drugs, it goes without saying that Emmanuel Macron’s pro-business program was eagerly anticipated by the pharmaceutical industry...
Read morePatient Autonomy & Alternative Routes of Care
Chrystine Zacherau
Health care providers (HCPs)are acutely aware of the impact of socio-political shifts on costs of care, which makes salient how HCPs view the "patient as partner" model. ..
Read moreHealth Care Providers: Morale on the Brink
Chrystine Zacherau
There is a middling of morale amongst health care providers, leaving questions about the future sustainability of the profession...
Read moreLocal Care, Global Concerns
Chrystine Zacherau
APCO Insight engaged health care providers (HCP) to understand how recent changes have impacted these individuals and where they see the industry heading...
Read moreHealth Care Consumerism is Only in its Infancy
Stig Albinus
Health care consumerism is an important and rising trend in health care. Yet, a new study in Health Affairs has thrown a dose of harsh reality into the expectation that we are on the verge of shifting to a consumer-driven marketplace in health care...
Read moreUnderstanding the Efficacy of New Care Delivery Paradigms
Chrystine Zacherau
As people participate in decisions about their care, the days of patients passively receiving treatment plans are over. ..
Read moreBurden of Budgets, Deterioration of Morale
Richard James
Our Doctors and Nurses are Tired: What does that Mean for the State of Health Care?..
Read moreBring Physicians Back to the Forefront of Health Care
Stig Albinus
Marginalizing the medical profession could undermine the quality of patient care...
Read moreResearch on Physician Views on Value-based Care
Stig Albinus
& Chrystine Zacherau
Research by APCO Insight shows stakeholders are generally skeptical about the shift from volume to value except for policy leaders..
Read moreThe Impact of Hancock to Health
As UK Prime Minister Theresa May was battling with changes in her Government late into the evening of Monday 9 July, after both her Foreign Secretary and her Brexit Secretary resigned in protest over her ’soft’ Brexit plans, it was confirmed that Matt Hancock would step into Jeremy Hunt’s shoes as the new Secretary of State for Health...
Read moreDeclining Trust in the Quality of US Health Care
Stig Albinus
& Chrystine Zacherau
According to research conducted by APCO Insight, health care providers are particularly harsh in their assessment of the quality of care...
Read moreThe State of US Biopharma Industry Reputation
Chrystine Zacherau
This year, against the backdrop of rising populist sentiment, the pharmaceutical industry has had to confront a uniquely hostile socio-political environment...
Read moreAHCA Passed the House: Now What?
William Pierce
First, hats off to House Leadership for sticking with it and not giving up on their pledge to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA)...
Read more100 Days Recap: Health Care Reform
William Pierce
Why is it so hard to pass a repeal and replace plan now that they have control of the White House and both chambers of Congress? Particularly when the President seems unconcerned about what they pass, just that they pass something so he can check it off on his list of accomplishments. The answer is both simple and complicated...
Read moreMajor Trends Influencing Health Communications
Katie Milgrom
Health care in the United States is a $2.8 trillion, rapidly-changing and increasingly complex industry. ..
Read moreThe Threat to Danish-American Pharma Trade
Stig Albinus
Danish pharmaceutical executives read President Donald Trump's tweets with great trepidation. And there is a very good reason for that...
Read moreFDA Ain’t Broke, Doesn’t Need Fixin’
Wayne L. Pines
The FDA ain’t broke, and it doesn’t need much fixin’. This is a message that is being delivered to the Trump administration from all stakeholders including the regulated industry itself, which hopefully will fall on open ears...
Read moreLong Live Integration in Health Care
Will Browne
The latest report from the National Audit Office (NAO) focuses on the success, or otherwise, of efforts to integrate health and social care and specifically the £5.3billion Better Care Fund...
Read moreHealth Care PR in Turbulent Times
Stig Albinus
What are the implications of this new challenging, turbulent environment for health care communications?..
Read moreThere’s No “I” in “Self-Care”
Chrystine Zacherau
When we spoke with NPs, every one said they believe in patient empowerment – and that involving patients in treatment plans improves compliance and outcomes...
Read moreSharedPurpose
James Robinson
Here is what we expect to be important for multinationals navigating China’s business and policy landscapes in 2018. ..
Read moreGlobal Health Care Scorecard
Stig Albinus
Taking a look at some of the more comprehensive global assessments and scorecards regarding health and medicine published in 2015 and 2016...
Read moreNurse Practitioners & Preventative Health
Chrystine Zacherau
We found that more than half believe prevention and wellness plays a strong role in their day-to-day practice...
Read morePatient Engagement: The New Normal
Chrystine Zacherau
Today more than ever, pharmaceutical companies are increasingly dependent on collaboration with patients. ..
Read moreWhat 2017 Health Care Trends Could Mean for PR
Stig Albinus
Five major trends that will likely continue to transform health care and health care PR. ..
Read moreHHS and CMS: What to Watch For
William Pierce
There are a couple of truisms that are important as we evaluate the nomination of Tom Price as HHS secretary and Seema Verma as administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services...
Read moreWhither Health Care?
William Pierce
In what was not a surprise, Republicans gained control of the U.S. Senate and gained enough House seats to have a near historic majority. What was a surprise to most, though not all was the number of seats gained in the Senate...
Read moreDenmark Close to Ground-Breaking Health Care Reform
Stig Albinus
Denmark is exploring a new health care reform that may lead to a more integrated health care system with better continuity for patients along all aspects of the patient journey – health promotion, disease prevention, diagnosis, care and rehabilitation...
Read moreThe Agility of the Health Care Associations
Bill Dalbec
Given the 2018 landscape and potential 2019 Congressional composition and agenda, here are three ways health care associations and their member companies should be preparing now...
Read moreFood and Agriculture Research
Dan Glickman
The food and agriculture industries are incredibly important parts of the U.S. and world economies. Food and agriculture exports are critical to farm incomes in the United States and in many parts of the developing world. Open markets for agriculture goods are especially critical for importing countries in the developing world as these countries, which for a variety of reasons are not self-sufficient in food production, seek to provide a reliable source of food and nutrition for their citizens...
Read moreA Return to Normalcy for Health Care?
William Pierce
Are we returning to a more “regular order?” Recent developments at HHS provide a partial explanation why the health care agenda has calmed somewhat despite the continued disorder in other areas of government...
Read moreFDA is Breaking Record New Drug Approvals
Stig Albinus
& Wayne L. Pines
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is setting a remarkable record for new drug approvals in 2018. As of November 1, 2018, 47 new drugs were approved by the FDA exceeding the previous record in 2017 of 46 new drugs. ..
Read moreNow What for the Dance Around Health Care?
William Pierce
With the results of the national election in, starting in 2019, Democrats will lead the U.S. House of Representatives. So, what does that mean for healthcare?..
Read moreWhat Trends Will Dominate 2019?
Brad Staples
2018 was a long year. Many global businesses are ill prepared for an increasingly challenging global regulatory environment, to respond to complex social issues and especially to geopolitical threats and political uncertainty. But those that are better prepared, will be better insulated from unforeseen global shocks...
Read more2019 Trends: Views from APCO’s Global Experts
Brad Staples
& Rachael Mierzwa
& James Tyrrell
& Travis Bullard
& Jeff Zelkowitz
& Jay Solomon
& Nicholas Whyte
As the global business and political communities prepare to turn the page to 2019, APCO’s team of global experts took a closer look at trends in areas key to businesses and our clients...
Read moreThe Role of Health Communications in Behavior Change
Katie Milgrom
Is it possible to change someone’s health behaviors simply through communications?..
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APCO Forum blog posts represent the voice of the author and not necessarily the corporate position or policy of APCO Worldwide.