MEDICAL CONFERENCE COVERAGE - WHAT IT DELIVERS?
01 May 2019
Several medical conferences are being organized in different therapeutic areas on a routine basis by respective medical associations alone or in collaboration with other event organizing agencies. Pharmaceutical companies are usually the sponsors for such conferences. Recent research highlights in particular therapeutic areas are discussed by eminent speakers and key opinion leaders (KOLs) in conferences, who can influence the next generation medical doctors through their experiences. The documents covering the various aspects of these conferences/congresses are popularly known as ‘conference coverage’, which includes the medical commentary of activities and events across therapeutic areas during the conference.
Recent developments in the medical field discussed by eminent speakers and KOLs are captured in the conference coverage deliverables for wider reach via print or on-line media to the next generation medical doctors who could not attend the conference. The pharmaceutical companies, through these conference coverage materials, provide continuity and brand exposure to a much larger audience.
Medical communication agencies offer conference coverage compiling all the literature and publications presented at the conference, provide key takeaway points, and include summaries and insights from KOLs and experts in the field. The conference coverage report can be generated by capturing the key points from the discussion between the experts and KOLs during the conference sessions along with their reactions, criticism and general insights. The conference coverage reports can be presented in various media forms including print material, on-line content, videos, PowerPoint presentations and more.
The ideal conference coverage should be independent, based on the presentations and discussion that occurred during the conference and should be free from any commercial bias. The conference coverage should include the summaries and insights generated by KOLs and experts during the conference. Appropriate experts and KOLs in the therapeutic area, hence, become very crucial for such documents, who can evaluate and analyze the data presented during the conference and participate in the discussions. The conference report should be generated from nonbiased scientific interchanges and discussions among leading experts in the field.
Medical conferences provide an opportunity to meet with KOLs and experts in addition to reconnecting with peers. However, the content presented at a conference should be preserved for its wider dissemination to all doctors. One can have the access to unbiased, meaningful commentary from KOLs and experts via a conference coverage report.