afaqs! to unveil Healthcare Brand Summit

The summit, which is the first of its kind, will be held on December 5 and 6 in Mumbai. OPPI and Brands of Desire have supported the event, while DDB Remedy is the knowledge partner.

While branding has become essential in the highly competitive market scenario for most products, the healthcare industry is slowly waking up to its merits now. With the Ministry of Health stepping up pressure to adopt prescription of generic drugs, it is especially become imperative for healthcare companies to indulge in brand building exercises.

In an attempt to discuss the challenges and share experiences, healthcare and allied industries stakeholders are coming together for the first Healthcare Brand Summit. Organised by afaqs!, the summit will be held at Hilton Hotel, Mumbai, on December 5 and 6. The event is supported by OPPI and Brands of Desire. DDB Remedy is the knowledge partner.

The unique summit brings together some of the noted luminaries and industry leaders of the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry, who will share their view on the importance of branding in the current market environment.

The two-day event will have around 20 speakers from healthcare services, hospitals, diagnostics and devices sectors, who will speak about not only brand building challenges but also how to leverage social media to help the brand. Some of the speakers include Ranjit Shahani, country president, Novartis India; Lawrence Ganti, country director, Merck Serono India; Dr Om Manchanda, CEO, Dr Lal Path Labs; Vineet Singhal, operating unit head for India and Southeast Asia, Novartis OTC Division; Kewal Handa, chairman, Medybiz Pharma; and Devendra Shinde, head, OTC Division, Dr Reddy's Labs.

The speakers will discuss topics ranging from the changing value of brands in the Indian healthcare industry to the brand building challenge between prescription and over the counter (OTC) medicines arising from competition from generics; the patient metamorphosing into the consumer and their relationship with pharma companies; and influencing patients-caregiver decision making. From the diagnostics sector, preventive health and the opportunity to build brands will be explored.

The registration for the summit starts at 9.15 am and the sessions will end by 4.45 pm. On Day 1, seven sessions are lined up, while Day 2 has six sessions. The summit's introduction and the valedictory remarks will be given by Novartis India's Ranjit Shahani.

For further information, please refer to http://www.healthcarebrandsummit.com/