The South African medical landscape is evolving rapidly. More than ever, doctors are seeking efficiency, leveraging Practice Management Solutions (PMS) to reduce administrative burden and focus on what truly matters: patient care. For pharmaceutical companies aiming to connect with prescribers, the traditional model is facing significant challenges as access to time-strapped doctors becomes increasingly limited.

This shift presents a critical challenge—and a powerful opportunity—for brand and marketing managers to rethink their engagement strategy.

Healthbridge: 25 Years of Leading Healthcare Technology

At the heart of this evolution is Healthbridge, a pioneer in South African healthcare technology for a quarter-century. Founded in 2000 as the nation’s first real-time claims switching service, Healthbridge has grown into an end-to-end, clinician-led platform trusted by over 7,000 practices, processing over 3.25 million encounters in 2024.

As an information-intensive industry, efficient management of the constant flow between practitioners, patients, and insurers is essential. Healthbridge’s commitment is to deliver smart, intuitive technology that helps clinicians run sustainable businesses while freeing up time for patient care.

Introducing Smartmeds: Bridging the Gap

Smartmeds is an extension of the Healthbridge Clinical Platform, offering Pharmaceutical companies a new, uniquely effective way to reach prescribers—directly within the e-scripting workflow.

In an environment where doctors require quick, reliable drug information, Smartmeds strategically addresses the needs of two key stakeholders:

1. Doctors’ Need: For accurate, timely product information and practice efficiency.
2. Pharma’s Need: To increase visibility, ensure products are prescribed, and improve dispensing success.

Revolutionising Visibility: How Smartmeds Works

Smartmeds operates on a principle of targeted exclusivity. By sponsoring a specific ATC 5 class or molecule, your product achieves prime visibility at the critical moment of prescribing:

• Top of the List: The sponsored product appears automatically at the top of the prescription dropdown list.
• Visual Impact: A visual brand representation (logo or packshot) is prominently displayed.
• Instant Access to PI: Doctors gain instant one-click access to the Package Insert (PI) and detailed product information embedded directly within the platform.
• Enhanced Information: A dedicated “More Info” page allows companies to highlight key additional product details and messaging.
• Targeted Placement: Only one brand per ATC class can hold the top-ranked, strategically placed position.

Imagine if your sales representative could stand beside the doctor as they prescribe to patients. With Smartmeds, this vision becomes a reality.

Why Smartmeds Matters for Your Pharma Brand

Smartmeds offers unique, data-driven advantages in a market with limited access to doctors:

• Increased Visibility: Your product appears prominently and consistently at the top of the e-scripting list, acting as a digital representative at the moment of prescribing.
• Strong Brand Reinforcement: Top ranking combined with visual cues (logo/packshot) drives improved brand recall and increases prescribing likelihood.
• Targeted Exclusivity: Secure the top-ranked position for your brand within a specific ATC class, guaranteeing prime visibility.
• Guaranteed Dispensing Success:
  • No-Substitution Flags automatically ensure your prescribed medication is not switched at the pharmacy.
  • Script Routing (including Dis-Chem integration) sends e-scripts directly to the patient’s preferred pharmacy, improving dispensing rates.
• Informed Decision-Making: Features like In-Formulary Drug Flags align prescriptions with patient scheme benefits, reducing friction and prescription abandonment.
• Direct Product Information Access: Doctors have one-click access to Package Inserts (PI) and key product details embedded directly in the workflow.
• Data-Driven ROI: Receive monthly performance reports detailing growth in script volume and market share, enabling more informed, trackable marketing and sales decisions.

Why Choose Healthbridge?

By partnering with Healthbridge, you align your brand with a trusted partner and the leading EMR platform in South Africa, ensuring your investment connects with an extensive, highly engaged network of prescribers.

• Trusted by over 7000 practices.
• 25 Years of industry experience.
• AI-driven, digital e-scripting platform.

Experience the future of pharmaceutical marketing.

Ready to see how Smartmeds can revolutionise your brand’s market share position and provide a clear, trackable ROI on your marketing spend?