Healthcare professionals seek in-person conferences for continuing professional development. Photo Credit: Adobe Stock/Ljupco Smokovski
Business Events Sydney (BESydney) recently announced several wins in
the health and life sciences sector, indicating a resurgence of events
in the industry and a growing enthusiasm among professionals in this
field to gather face-to-face.
According to Joanne Muscat, BESydney's senior bid manager, the
pandemic has shone a spotlight on the global health sector, and the
recent bid wins reflect the increasing certainty with which various
international associations have been addressing their backlog of
decisions over the past year.
Like other sectors, bid leaders in the health sector are eager to
return to face-to-face conferencing, and many of them have been
travelling internationally since the borders opened to meet with their
colleagues, according to Muscat.
Ben Williams, BESydney's senior engagement manager for science
infrastructure and health, emphasised the importance of education in the
health sector, with most professionals needing to complete continuing
professional development (CPD) every year, of which meetings are a major
component.
Felicia Teng, general manager of The Meeting Lab, a Singapore-based
company that organises meetings and conferences targeting healthcare
professionals (HCPs), stated that meetings and conferences in the sector
have firmly returned. The pandemic gave institutions, as well as the
supply chain, a wake-up call.
Teng added that many associations were low key during Covid-19 as it
was more difficult to get financial support for virtual meetings, saying
that "most HCPs prefer face-to-face meetings because they allow for
better interaction and exchange of ideas. Some hands-on sessions cannot
run virtually. Associations will avoid hybrid meetings because they cost
more than face-to-face meetings.
"However, hybrid meetings benefit those who may not have access to the meeting otherwise, which improves equity and inclusion."
Muscat also agreed that while some international associations may
continue to seek an element of hybrid, there is now an understanding
that this comes at a cost; for example, it can become a whole other
"event" to be managed. Nonetheless, hybrid meetings also benefit some
who may otherwise not have access to the meeting.
Another trend and challenge to manage post-pandemic is shortened conferences in the healthcare field.
"Some conferences have shortened the number of days because it is
more difficult for HCPs to take long conference leaves," said Teng.
"Most conferences are going paperless, and more and more, including the
senior HCPs, are now more IT-savvy to access materials online or through
conference apps, thanks to Covid-19."