IDEA: Capacity building of Health Writers for accurate healthcare reporting.
HEAL Health Writers & Editors Network was conceptualised in 2005 when none of the popular newspapers had a dedicated team of health writers. The health stories were covered by journalists who were either covering politics or crime beats. This often led to misreporting in the health stories, which directly or indirectly impacted the masses, involved brands, and doctors.
Healthcare is a complex topic, and it can be difficult for people coming from non-healthcare backgrounds to comprehend healthcare information correctly. Also, access to Key Opinion Leaders was a challenge for vernacular health writers. Hence, HEAL created a group of healthcare writers and organised capacity-building activities for the group so that scientifically correct information can reach the masses.
HEAL National Health Writers and Editors Network is the largest network of health journalists, writers, and bloggers in India. HEAL creates various knowledge disseminating opportunities and platforms for the media fraternity on hosts of health issues plaguing Indian society.
HEAL Foundation identified the need to bring health and science writers of India on a common platform where they can meet and discuss with their colleagues, learn from industry leaders and disseminate information to the common man. To empower them with knowledge about new happenings in the healthcare industry, relevant health issues and health industry updates, HEAL Foundation has organised:
- 7 successful HEAL Conventions have been organized in Delhi NCR, , Goa and Hyderabad.
- 450+ Health writers have been engaged from across India
- Hundreds of media stories and coverage generated
- Central government, state health departments, regulatory bodies and development organizations have associated with the platform to share health industry updates
- Many leading healthcare brands have come on board over the years to highlight the latest trends and updates in their healthcare verticals.
