Interviews
Umbrella branding in OTC medicines supports responsible self‑care by helping consumers navigate choices, build trust and confidence, and access reliable health information, countering regulators’ long‑standing focus on risks rather than benefits, says PAGB CEO Michelle Riddalls.
HBW Insight speaks to ex-Perrigo ESG expert Steve Ramus about the state of sustainability in consumer health and where we might be heading in the near future. Part one of two.
Industry associations in the UK, Germany and Greece expect 2026 to be the year self‑care policy is translated into day‑to‑day system change. They highlight opportunities in pharmacy, digital tools and regulatory reform, but warn that progress depends on political timing and regulatory agility.
GSCF, AESGP and ILAR agree that 2026 will see self‑care translate into more tangible system‑level action, propelled by prevention, regulatory updates and more assertive efforts to counter misleading claims.
While it's not clear that it will, if the tech bubble bursts, innovation and investment in consumer health could slow, according to Euromonitor 's Magda Starula. Meanwhile, climate change is reshaping allergy and respiratory needs, creating opportunities for industry.
Executives from Opella, Haleon, Bayer, Kenvue, Cooper and Maxwellia anticipate a year of rapid growth in self‑care and personalised health, driven by digital tools, smarter OTC access and evidence‑led innovation across Europe and beyond.
“In the coming years, growth will depend on whether brands can combine trust, personalization, and proof of evidence into one coherent prevention experience,” argue Simon Kucher's Clemens Oberhammer and Christian Rebholz in this exclusive interview.
Negative growth in global OTC market sales volume means that “as an industry, we're not doing good enough,” argues Opella’s Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa (AMEA) head, Carol-Ann Stewart, in this exclusive feature interview.
In the second part of a special Self-Care Week episode of Over the Counter, HBW Insight speaks to PAGB CEO Michelle Riddalls about what the association is doing to promote self-care.
Self-Care Week Special: HBW Insight catches up with PAGB CEO Michelle Riddalls OBE to talk about what the association is doing to promote Rx-to-OTC switch in the UK.
EllaOne manufacturer Perrigo tells HBW Insight that Community Pharmacy England's decision to offer free emergency contraception is "the right move for women" but also "makes pharmacy training and sex education more important than ever."
HBW Insight speaks to Opella's Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa (AMEA) head, Carol-Anne Stewart, about the company's China growth strategy in this exclusive interview.
HBW Insight speaks to AESGP's governmental and public affairs manager, Luis Rhodes Baiao, about the association's Self-Care Insight and Inspire platform, which brings together inspiring self-care initiatives from across Europe.
In this exclusive interview with HBW Insight, Haleon CEO Brian McNamara explains how his firm is already “making good progress” towards its ambitious goal of reaching 1bn more consumers.
Haleon's Asia-Pacific president Keith Choi reveals how the firm is intending to grow its China business in a challenging but potentially extremely lucrative consumer health market.
In an exclusive Q&A, HBW Insight catches up with Maxwellia CEO Anna Maxwell to find out more about the UK Rx-to-OTC switch of Naprosyn Pain Relief, the first new OTC single-ingredient oral analgesic for acute back, muscle and joint pain in over a decade.
In part 2 of HBW Insight's interview with PA Consulting's personalization and consumer expert, Rhea Patten, we discuss whether sustainability should still be a priority for consumer health companies big and small.
HBW Insight catches up with PA Consulting's personalization and consumer expert Rhea Patten to find out what “vibes” are and how understanding this aspect of “consumer centricity” better can help consumer health companies grow their brands.
HBW Insight speaks to Haleon's UK & Ireland general manager Jo Cooper about how she plans to translate the firm's ambitious global growth strategy to a local context.
Established by Max Gowland in 2013, Prime Fifty was founded to address the specific nutritional needs of the over 50s.