World’s largest independent healthcare communications network strengthens market-leading offering across Asia Pacific, North America, South America, Europe & Africa

GLOBALHealthPR^®, the largest independent health and science communications agency partnership worldwide, represented exclusively by VIVA! Communications in Australia, today welcomed Johannesburg-based F/NE to its rapidly expanding global network.

Founded more than 18 years ago, F/NE has built an impressive reputation as South Africa’s leading independent healthcare communications consultancy, with an extended reach into Kenya, Nigeria, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

With the addition of F/NE, GLOBALHealthPR adds a strong strategic presence in South Africa and across Africa, helping to address increased client demand for deep insights and seamless execution across the region’s diverse markets. The need for, and investment in, healthcare services in Africa remains at an all-time high, while successful communication programs require local knowledge and an ability to work across disciplines to reach a broad range of stakeholders.

According to founder and CEO of F/NE, Mandi Fine, F/NE is delighted to have joined the GLOBALHealthPR partnership.

“F/NE is thrilled to add our name to GLOBALHealthPR’s roster of best-in-market healthcare communications agencies as they continue to redefine the industry’s approach to building a collaborative global network focused on client needs.

“Our clients will now benefit from access to the top health communications consultancies internationally, in addition to our best-in-class capabilities in South Africa and across the continent.”

Founded in 2001, the GLOBALHealthPR network delivers local, regional and global healthcare communications expertise through carefully-selected partner agencies that choose to work together based on shared values, independence and flexibility. Headquartered in New York, with regional hub offices in Singapore and London, GLOBALHealthPR uniquely combines the capabilities, power and reach of the big holding company networks with the flexibility, agility, entrepreneurial spirit and creativity of independent agencies. In doing so, the network and its agencies, including VIVA! Communications, have become trusted partners to top global biopharmaceutical companies, medical-device manufacturers, health-technology companies, advocacy and professional associations and consumer goods companies.

“GLOBALHealthPR is incredibly excited to be joining forces with F/NE, a firm whose strategy-first approach to health communications aligns perfectly with our existing agency partners,” said Jonathan Wilson, President of GLOBALHealthPR.

“Mandi and her team have a great reputation thanks to their unparalleled understanding of the healthcare communications needs in South Africa and their delivery of innovative, multi-disciplinary solutions to address the unique challenges clients face every day.”                                                                                        

VIVA! Communications’ Principal, Kirsten Bruce, similarly welcomed the addition of F/NE to GLOBALHealthPR, citing “F/NE will inject significant strength into our unique global healthcare communications network and offer all partners, invaluable strategic communication insights and expertise which we can all share with our respective clientele.”

Currently fewer than 50 per cent of Africans have access to modern healthcare facilities, though urban development and increased wealth, coupled with greater access to mobile phones and the internet, are likely to significantly change the delivery of healthcare in the coming years.

“Healthcare communications plays a critical role in South Africa and across the African continent, helping to increase health literacy and access to care in underserved communities and highlighting incredible innovation taking place in the academic and commercial sectors,” said Tim Goddard, Executive Vice President, GLOBALHealthPR.

“Similar to the Asia Pacific and Latin American regions over the last decade, we anticipate a significant boom in strategic health communications needs in Africa. We are pleased to partner with F/NE as we continue to offer our clients access to the top healthcare communications agencies around the world.”

About F/NE

F/NE is a niche consultancy based in Johannesburg, South Africa that is structured as a strategic hub, with highly skilled strategists who have deep institutional knowledge of healthcare. F/NE has worked as a trusted partner to large multinational healthcare clients in building companies’ brands and reputations in South Africa, Africa and many emerging markets for more than 18 years.

 

About GLOBALHealthPR^®

GLOBALHealthPR is a partnership of independently owned and operated health and science communications agencies that choose to work together based on common values. With more than 600 health-specialist communications professionals, researchers and medical advisors on staff serving more than 200 organisations globally, the agencies that comprise the partnership share a belief in insights-driven strategies and a commitment to collaboration in order to provide clients the best possible counsel and execution.

GLOBALHealthPR’s presence spans more than 40 countries covering Asia-Pacific, Europe, North America, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa regions. VIVA! Communications has represented GLOBALHealthPR exclusively in Australia for more than 7 years.

For more information, head to https://vivacommunications.com.au/globalhealthpr-2/ or www.globalhealthpr.com, or follow us on Twitter @GLOBALHealthPR.