‘What If?’ Poetry as a platform for the patient voice

Patient centricity has been a key focus for pharma in 2023. However, extending beyond the merely discursive topic into sustained and tangible action at scale has been somewhat limited. This year, Sanofi – in conjunction with the release of its ‘What If?’ report – ran a poetry competition for patients: it asked those going through the healthcare system what they would say if they knew that their voice would be heard, and to share that through poetry.

Held at London’s Battersea Arts Centre on 5th October, Sanofi’s ‘What If?’ People’s Poem event coincided with National Poetry Day. The campaign is about asking questions and being curious about the self and others, as Sanofi UKIE’s country lead, Jessamy Baird, told the audience in her welcoming remarks. What unites us all in our journeys is, after all, health, but everyone’s journey is different and varied. So it is that Sanofi wanted to hear from that wide spectrum of patients, their families, and carers.

Serving diverse communities, serving humanity

The Battersea Arts Centre (BAC) was an inspirational choice of venue for this linguistic endeavour. Amy Vaughan, executive director and deputy CEO of BAC, explained how it represents inclusivity and accessibility for people, ensuring a sense of community, all of which Sanofi itself strives to serve.

Indeed, wandering through the corridors of BAC, it soon becomes clear that it is a place that brings people from far and wide together – incredibly appropriate for the ‘What If?’ campaign.

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