Spink wins launch of self care journal

Healthcare communications agency, Spink, has been briefed to launch a new online academic journal devoted to the rising need for consumer-led healthcare.

The online journal, SelfCare, is aimed at healthcare professionals and pharmaceutical marketers and will feature new research, reviews, video debates, discussion and opinion articles exploring all aspects of self care, including its impact on public health policy.

Patient-led healthcare is a key issue for the NHS and the pharmaceutical industry. Recent research by IMS Health has revealed that minor ailments cost the NHS £2bn a year, and a fifth of GP consultations relate to problems that patients can treat themselves. 

Spink's online communications campaign to launch SelfCare will include a Twitter platform, a LinkedIn group and media-seeding campaign via RSS feeds and online releases.

The agency will drive awareness as well as subscribers by generating online traffic to the site, which is co-edited by a former medical director at Johnson & Johnson, Dr Steve Mann, and Professor Eric Brass, a former chair of the FDA advisory committee on non-prescription medicines.