Pfizer Health Forums
The Brief:
Provide an opportunity for members of the public to hear experts discuss health and social issues and engage key influencers in Ireland.
The Solution:
The ‘Pfizer Health Debates’ began in 2009, visiting six locations around the country, inviting the general public to attend free debates to hear views and opinions on our healthcare system.
A media partnership was agreed between Pfizer and The Irish Times. Significant advertising and editorial exposure including Assistant Editor, Fintan O’Toole, Chairing each event.
Throughout 2009 the debate series ran across Ireland. Topics included hospital co-location, access to hospital beds, hospital reconfiguration and bed capacity.
Into 2010
Building on the success of the debate series, the partnership continued into 2010, with a slightly altered event format. It was agreed to hold discussion forums rather than debates. This series is running throughout 2010 and is entitled ‘The Pfizer Health Forums, in association with The Irish Times’.
The topics being covered include; mental health, children, elderly, alcohol and cancer. The Chairperson, Fintan O’Toole, is accompanied by four guest speakers. Six forums are being held in different cities including; Dublin, Cork, Galway, Waterford and Limerick. For each event, invitations are sent to the relevant patient, health and medical organisations and to local politicians and dignitaries.
Participants include leading representatives from medical professional organisations, patient advocacy groups, politics, academia, private sector business and Ireland’s health services.
Each event is attracting between 100 – 150 people, with some events over-subscribed.
Almost 50 experts and stakeholders from the highest levels of policy-making, politics, academia, media, medicine and healthcare will have participated at the end of the forum series.
