Sandpiper Launches Dedicated Healthcare Consultancy – Sandpiper Health

Sandpiper today announced the launch of Sandpiper Health, a strategic communications and public affairs consultancy specialising in healthcare. Sandpiper Health is a merger of Sandpiper’s existing, award-winning integrated Asia Pacific health practice, and the health practice of its recently acquired China-based consultancy, North Head, who bring deep expertise in healthcare policy, advocacy and communications in the Chinese mainland. The combined entity will provide a full range of consultancy services including corporate communications, patient advocacy, public affairs and policy development, as well as internal communications and social and digital strategies.

Sandpiper Health will be led by Directors Saskia Kendall and Sarada Chellam based in Singapore, and Robert Magyar based in Beijing, China. The founding team will comprise around 30 dedicated specialist consultants based across Australia, China, Hong Kong SAR, and Singapore. Its client list includes many of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, as well as medical device manufacturers, health insurers, health services groups, telemedicine start-ups, and major industry associations..

Emma Smith, CEO, Sandpiper said: “Three years ago we founded our health practice in Asia Pacific with a vision to provide truly specialist counsel for healthcare and wellbeing-focused organisations across the region. This has been very well received and with our recent acquisition of North Head, who has the largest and most experienced healthcare public affairs and communications team in mainland China, the timing is right to launch Sandpiper Health as a dedicated specialist consultancy. With a strong founding team and client base, Sandpiper Health will be among the largest dedicated healthcare consultancies in the region.”

Sarada Chellam, Director, Sandpiper Health and General Manager Singapore said: “Like our clients, our team puts patients at the heart of the work we do. Improving the quality of healthcare in Asia Pacific is a central priority for people and governments in the region, a trend that has been exacerbated by the pandemic. It is important in this environment that healthcare companies work with other stakeholders to provide solutions to the challenges faced and develop programmes that can help people manage their health better and stay healthier for longer.”

Robert Magyar, Director, Sandpiper Health said: “Growing affluence, aging populations, and most acutely the COVID-19 pandemic continue to create complex environments that governments and healthcare companies must navigate in China and across the region. Sandpiper Health has the local expertise and experience to help our clients understand patients, caregivers, and policymakers’ priorities and to align their businesses for growth. We are proud to use the disciplines of public affairs and communications to help our clients create a favourable environment for innovative therapies, forward-looking industrial policies, and a healthy society.”

Sandpiper Health takes an integrated approach which is informed by the team’s deep understanding of the complex health environment in the region and beyond.

In 2021, Sandpiper was awarded 2021 Asia Pacific PR Agency of the Year, Fastest Growing Agency in Asia Pacific, and an Agency to Watch by PR Week Asia; three healthcare campaign-related awards and Asia Pacific Corporate and Public Affairs Agency of the Year and a Best Place to Work, as well as being shortlisted for Global Corporate/Financial PR Agency of the year by PRovoke.

For more information please contact:

Sarada Chellam, Director, Sandpiper Health

Saskia Kendall, Director, Sandpiper Health

Robert Magyar, Director, Sandpiper Health