Film calls for greater diversity in healthcare communications

A new documentary has been released to try and help promote and inspire more diversity within the healthcare communications industry.

Diversity In Healthcare Advertising is a collaboration between Healthy Films, director Richard Paris Wilson, Sudler's digital innovation officer Faisal Ahmed and the Creative Floor Healthcare Awards.

The short film’s interviewees include Pollen’s Natasher Beecher (pictured above), Havas Lynx’s Sophie Chapman, Sudler’s Tara Page, H4B’s Aaliyah Stansfield, WPP’s Claire Gillis, Weber Shandwick’s Khalid Latif, and Publicis’ Abha Trivedi, Shaheed Peera and Dimuthu Jayawardana.

Faisal Ahmed, digital innovation officer at Sudler, said: “Hopefully this film will spark people into action, not just talking about diversity but doing something about it! We want to create a truly diverse culture that will benefit patients, carers and HCPs. Special thanks to WPP Health Practice, Havas Lynx Group, Publicis Health and Weber Shandwick who helped us make this documentary.”

It’s estimated that up to 120 million people in the US do not see themselves portrayed in adverts, while last year research found that 92% of creative jobs in the UK were held by the most ‘advantaged’ in society.

Richard Paris-Wilson, director at Healthy Films, said: “The statistics around diversity in the communications industry illustrate we have a long way to go, so we believe this is a story worth shining a light on. We hope the film will inspire agencies to see the benefits of diversity and encourage them to change for the better.”

The film’s release follows the launch in February of conference inclusion initiative the DICE coalition, which aims to improve diversity and inclusion at industry events.