Trends and issues affecting healthcare education and pharmaceutical marketing

What’s happening in 2009

Fiona Grigg — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 05:18:52 +0000

Happy New Year and welcome to our first blog for 2009! January is always a busy time for us here at ZEST, as we prepare materials for our clients’ cycle meetings and complete the finishing touches to new programs and educational activities that will be rolled out when the reps get back on the road. We’ve [...]

Next-generation medicine

Elly Brookes — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 02:16:21 +0000

When we talk about ‘next-generation’ medicine, we tend to think about advances in treatments, diagnostic tools or preventative approaches such as vaccines. But what about ‘next-generation’ healthcare providers? Currently in Australia, over 60% of GPs belong to the ‘Baby Boomer’ generation - defined as those born between 1946 and 1964. And just over 14% of [...]

Mobile Web – the future of on-line marketing?

Fiona Grigg — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 05:01:10 +0000

The arrival of the iPhone and other smart phones has quickly changed the way we use the internet. Email and SMS technology has been available for many years via your mobile but the ability to easily access You Tube, Google maps, Safari and a host of other content through an iPhone is revolutionary. The day [...]

Redefining your KOLs

Linda Richards — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:26:16 +0000

When you hear the term ‘key opinion leader’, who immediately springs to mind? A specialist or GP who commonly takes the lead in a therapy area, or maybe a leading academic in a particular field of research? But do your thoughts extend to members of other healthcare professions – say nurses, pharmacists, or physiotherapists? Allied healthcare [...]

New pre-marketing initiative

Jasmyn Real — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 05:33:06 +0000

As budgets get smaller and pharmaceutical companies get more competitive, we are constantly striving to find different ways to market new therapies. Some companies are attempting to secure doctor and patient groups even before their therapy has received approval. The latest company to do this is GlaxoSmithKline. Recently recruiting via the radio for a clinical trial, [...]

Introducing ZEST Express!

Stuart Baker — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 04:20:21 +0000

express /əkˈsprεs/ 1. To put thought into words: to express an idea clearly 2. To show, manifest, or reveal: to express one’s feelings 3. To make known feelings or opinions 4. To send by special messenger or rapid transport 5. Sent out with or moving at high speed 6. Direct, rapid, and usually nonstop You know when you’re just [...]

AMA slams pharmacist sick leave certificates: A turf war, or genuine concerns for the patient?

Linda Richards — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 05:58:04 +0000

The AMA has warned that the new WorkChoices legislation allowing any registered health practitioner - including pharmacists, naturopaths and iridologists - to issue sick leave certificates could put lives at risk. “I might present to the pharmacist having needed to take the day off work because I have headache … I might get my certificate [...]

A Christmas review of 2007 from an Australian healthcare industry perspective

Fiona Grigg — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 02:21:59 +0000

The Christmas lights are up and the 2007 business year is hurtling to an end. This will be our last post for this year and it’s a good opportunity to stop and reflect on the past year and to look ahead at the emerging trends for 2008. The most recent event and possibility the most significant [...]

A new opportunity for relationship-building: EBM journal clubs

Linda Richards — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 00:07:44 +0000

The introduction of evidence-based medicine (EBM) journal clubs into the RACGP continuing professional development program represents a new opportunity for relationship-building with GPs. By providing support for these journal clubs, pharmaceutical representatives can reinforce relationships with their key doctors. A workshop at the recent RACGP conference provided tips for establishing a successful journal club and overcoming [...]

Viva concordance!

Stuart Baker — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 05:50:47 +0000

In an earlier post I considered the likelihood that every doctor’s patients were compliant to their treatment regimens (not very) and why the hierarchical connotation of the word “compliant” itself might be stopping patients achieving their best possible health outcomes. (And thwarting the best efforts of the pharmaceutical industry’s marketing departments.) I ended the post by [...]