Healthcare Communications Association (HCA)

Name

Healthcare Communications Association (HCA)

Legal name

Healthcare Communications Association

Website

https://the-hca.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (813920), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Healthcare Licensing, Accreditation & Credentialing Boards (HLAJACAC)

Keywords

• Healthcare communications association
• CPD accredited training
• Professional development courses
• Industry conferences events
• Benchmarking surveys

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership subscriptions: HCA generates revenue through annual membership fees from organizations including in-house teams, agencies, charities, and individual professionals working in healthcare communications. Members receive preferential rates for training courses and exclusive access to benchmarking surveys.
2. Training course fees: The organization offers CPD-accredited courses to both members at discounted rates and non-members at full pricing. Course formats include live virtual sessions, on-demand content, and face-to-face training events.
3. Event registration fees: HCA hosts events including the annual conference, Shared Experience events, and professional development workshops. Non-members pay full registration fees while members receive free or discounted access.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The HCA is a not-for-profit professional membership association that delivers CPD-accredited training courses, the annual HCA Conference, Shared Experience member events, peer member forums, benchmarking surveys, and best-practice publications to healthcare communications professionals. Membership is open to in-house pharmaceutical teams, healthcare communications agencies, healthcare charities, and individual practitioners, with members receiving preferential pricing on paid services and exclusive access to benchmarking data and forums.

Product overview

The Healthcare Communications Association (HCA) is a not-for-profit professional membership organization serving the healthcare communications sector. Rather than a single product, HCA offers a portfolio of interconnected services: a CPD Standards Framework that establishes professional development benchmarks, complemented by live and on-demand CPD Courses covering pharmaceutical industry fundamentals, medical communications planning, AI applications, storytelling, and evaluation; Shared Experience events and the annual HCA Conference providing thought leadership on topics including AI, health equity, and communications best practices; Member Forums enabling peer networking across HR, leadership, learning & development, and measurement disciplines; publications including the Innovation Journal, Social Media Guide, Pro Bono Guide, and Partnership Triangle Playbook; AI-focused educational resources; environmental and social initiatives encompassing DE&I, wellbeing, and sustainability; Benchmarking services for industry comparison; and collaborative Healthcare Alliances connecting pharma, agency, charity, and procurement stakeholders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CPD Courses CPD-accredited courses covering Pharmaceutical Industry Essentials, Molecule to Marketing, Medical Communications Planning, AI for Healthcare Marketing, Effective Storytelling, Reputation/Risk/Resilience, and Understanding Healthcare Systems in Europe. Delivered as live virtual sessions, on-demand content, and face-to-face training. Pricing: Member £640, Associate £380, Patient groups/Charity reduced rates, Non-member £1,000 for full Medical Communications Planning course.
• HCA Conference Annual flagship conference for healthcare communications professionals featuring keynote speakers, workshops, and networking. Includes unlimited registration package priced at 15% of membership fee for member organizations. Past editions held in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, with 2026 edition in planning.
• Shared Experience Events Free-to-members events covering topics such as brain health, AI in healthcare, Edelman Trust Barometer, precision oncology, social media guidance, and health equity. Hybrid in-person and virtual format with both live sessions and on-demand recordings.
• Benchmarking Services Annual benchmarking survey exclusive to members that allows healthcare communications agencies to compare working practices and performance against industry peers, addressing the limited industry benchmarking opportunities in the sector.
• Healthcare Alliances Collaborative networks including Healthcare Industry Alliance (with Pharma Forward forum), Healthcare Agency Alliance (with Agency Leaders' Forum), Healthcare Charity Alliance (with Charity Forum), and Healthcare Procurement Alliance (with Partnership Triangle Playbook), connecting pharma, agency, charity, and procurement stakeholders.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20th Anniversary celebrated in 2022, demonstrating sustained industry leadership and 20 years of service to healthcare communications professionals

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

32 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ethos Pharmaceutical Ethics and CompliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-branded initiative 'Activate' for pharmaceutical ethics and compliance education, bringing together HCA, Ethos, and the PM Society to provide professional development in ethical practices and ABPI Code of Conduct training.
• PM SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with PM Society on the Activate professional development program for pharmaceutical ethics and compliance education, partnering with Ethos Pharmaceutical Ethics and Compliance.
• MadanominorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue sponsor for Shared Experience events including 'The Next Frontier in Brain Health' event at Riverside House, London.
• GCI HealthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent sponsor for Flying high – the power of teamwork session featuring Kirsty Murphy, former Red Arrows pilot.
• Real ChemistryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent sponsor for 'Repairing the Damage Done by Fake News in Vaccine Confidence' panel discussion.
• Havas JustminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent co-sponsor for Health Literacy shared experience session alongside McCann Health.
• McCann HealthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent co-sponsor for Health Literacy shared experience session alongside Havas Just.
• 90TENminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent co-sponsor for 'The Future of Nudge Marketing in HCP Communications' panel discussion alongside Makara Health.
• Makara HealthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent co-sponsor for 'The Future of Nudge Marketing in HCP Communications' panel discussion alongside 90TEN.
• EdelmanminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent sponsor for 'The Future of Healthcare: Are we entering a golden age?' panel discussion featuring Dr Zoe Williams, Andy Powrie-Smith from EFPIA, and Adam Davison from Babylon Health.
• Visions4Health LtdcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerExternal facilitator for the HCA CPD-accredited course 'Understanding healthcare systems in Europe and their impact on communication strategy' - Senior Consultants from Visions4Health deliver the training.
• Coachwise ConsultantscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFacilitator for Pharmaceutical Industry Essentials CPD course, led by Phil Yates, providing training on pharmaceutical industry structure and function.
• Intent HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPro bono partnership success story - Intent Health worked with HCA member agencies on healthcare communications projects.
• Beacon for rare diseasesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPro bono partnership success story - rare disease advocacy organization partnered with HCA member agencies.
• Bookmark ReadingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPro bono partnership success story - literacy organization partnered with HCA member agencies for communications support.
• LexingtonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPro bono partnership success story - communications agency partnered with HCA through the Passion Partnership program.
• Red HavasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPro bono partnership success story - global communications agency participated in HCA pro bono initiatives.
• VavengersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPro bono partnership success story - advocacy organization partnered with HCA member agencies through the Passion Partnership.
• StirredminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPro bono partnership success story - communications agency participated in HCA member pro bono initiatives.
• Luminary BakeryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPro bono partnership success story - social enterprise partnered with HCA members for communications support.
• Dementia Carers UKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPro bono partnership brief - charity working with HCA member agencies for communications support and awareness raising.
• Positively UKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPro bono partnership brief - HIV support charity partnered with HCA for communications assistance.
• Breathe Arts Health ResearchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPro bono partnership brief - arts and health organization partnered with HCA member agencies.
• The Urology FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPro bono partnership brief - medical charity partnered with HCA for communications support.
• ALK PositiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPro bono partnership brief - allergy patient advocacy group partnered with HCA member agencies.
• Tuberous SclerosisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPro bono partnership brief - rare condition charity partnered with HCA for communications assistance.
• Long Covid SupportminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPro bono partnership brief - patient support organization partnered with HCA member agencies for communications.
• Kidney TransplantminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPro bono partnership brief - transplant awareness charity partnered with HCA for communications support.
• Healthcare Industry AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance forum within HCA bringing together pharmaceutical company professionals, featuring the Pharma Forward forum for industry leaders.
• Healthcare Agency AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance forum within HCA for agency leaders, featuring the Agency Leaders' Forum for senior agency executives.
• Healthcare Charity AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance forum within HCA for healthcare charities and patient organizations, featuring the Charity Forum for sector-wide discussions.
• Healthcare Procurement AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance forum within HCA for procurement professionals in healthcare, featuring the Partnership Triangle Playbook resource.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Drug Information Association (DIA): Global, larger-scale life-sciences membership association offering training, conferences and regulatory engagement across drug development. Overlaps with HCA in pharma industry training and member services, but operates far more broadly across R&D, regulatory and clinical rather than communications specifically.
• Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA): UK's largest generalist PR and communications membership body, offering CPD, training, accreditation and events. Comparable membership-based model and CPD framework, but covers all sectors rather than specialising in healthcare communications.
• Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI): UK trade association representing the entire pharmaceutical industry to policymakers and regulators. Sets the ABPI Code of Practice that HCA trains against, making it an upstream standards-setter rather than a direct competitor, but a relevant reference point for industry membership bodies.
• Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR): UK chartered body for PR professionals providing CPD, qualifications and training. Overlaps with HCA on CPD accreditation, professional standards and member services, though it serves all PR sectors rather than healthcare communications specifically.

Regional players

• International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP): Global federation of national pharmaceutical associations and pharmacists. Comparable membership-association model and pharma focus, but operates internationally and at the pharmacy-practice level rather than UK healthcare communications specifically.

Direct peers

• Medical Affairs Professional Society (MAPS): Global not-for-profit association for medical affairs professionals, providing training, standards and community across pharma. Closely comparable membership-association model, CPD-style learning programs and pharma-centric member base to HCA.
• PM Society: UK-based membership association for pharmaceutical marketing professionals, running training, awards and conferences. Direct overlap with HCA's healthcare communications membership and CPD offerings, and an explicit HCA co-development partner on the Activate program.
• International Society for Medical Publication Professionals (ISMPP): Global not-for-profit membership body for medical publication professionals, offering credentialing, training and advocacy. Comparable membership-association business model, CPD/credentialing focus, and pharma-industry member base to HCA, though with a more international footprint and narrower medical-publication remit.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/the_hca
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/healthcare-communications-association-hca

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Healthcare Communications Association (HCA)