Healthcare services brands have played a key role in providing care through the COVID-19 pandemic, with the ten big American brands facing high demand for hospitals, doctors and medication. With demand skyrocketed, brands were put under significant stress – with new and innovative ways needed to serve patient needs by expanding their service offerings and by introducing new technology to meet demands.
Every year, Brand Finance puts 5,000 of the world’s biggest brands to the test, and publishes around 100 reports, ranking brands across all sectors and countries. The pharmaceutical industry’s top 10 most valuable and strongest brands in the world are included in the annual Brand Finance Healthcare 10 ranking.
American healthcare brand UnitedHealthcare achieved a 21% brand value growth this year, with the brand valued rising to US$32.9 billion. UnitedHealthcare’s mission of providing affordable and timely healthcare solutions has been possible with the launch of its virtual-first health plan which provides healthcare service around the clock. The platform is helpful for online consultations as well as booking appointments for procedures in-person.
In addition to calculating brand value, Brand Finance also determines the relative strength of brands through a balanced scorecard of metrics evaluating marketing investment, stakeholder equity, and business performance. Compliant with ISO 20671, Brand Finance’s assessment of stakeholder equity incorporates original market research data from over 100,000 respondents in more than 35 countries and across nearly 30 sectors. UnitedHealthcare is the strongest healthcare brand in the ranking with a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score of 77.4 out of 100 and a brand rating of AA+. The brand has spearheaded initiatives to ensure equity and better medical outcomes by supporting communities that have low access to healthcare services. The brand uses a data-first approach to understand the needs of low-income families and provides diagnosis, and telehealth and medical assistance.
Facing a previously unknown virus, global healthcare brands answered the call to treat people as the pandemic spread. The brands have grown and adjusted to patient needs, recalibrated their services, and fought to deliver treatment in difficult conditions and under very stressful requirements.
Alex Haigh, Managing Director, Brand Finance
IQVIA is the fastest-growing healthcare brand this year. The brand has seen an impressive growth of 47% over the past year to US$5.2 billion, up from US$3.5 billion in 2021. The healthcare brand has been active in various research and development projects for clinical development of new medication. In the next five years, IQVIA is expected to launch many new specialty drugs to contribute to medical developments and provide wider access to healthcare using its well-connected distribution network.
New entrant AmerisourceBergen outperforms competitors and joins the top ten healthcare brands, valued at US$4.8 billion
AmerisourceBergen (brand value up 11% to US$4.8 billion) is a new entrant in the Healthcare 10 ranking. The brand has achieved big gains in the past year owing to strategic partnerships and investments in emerging MedTech and healthcare start-ups. This year,
AmerisourceBergen launched its venture capital fund AB Health Ventures to accelerate its growth in new markets and innovative healthcare solutions. The brand has also prioritised its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) activities by supporting global non-profit organizations, COVID-19 vaccine distribution and by using sustainable and recyclable packaging for its products.