Event Overview
The Association of Healthcare Marketing Professionals (AHMP) India Foundation hosted the AHMP CON 2026 – Healthcare Marketing Summit, Chennai Edition on 6 September 2026 at the Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education & Research, Porur, Chennai. The summit convened approximately 640 delegates comprising healthcare leaders, marketers, clinicians, technology innovators and communication professionals.
Programme Highlights
The knowledge programme addressed the evolving role of healthcare marketing amid advances in technology, data, patient expectations, regulation and new communication channels. Sessions examined the projected hospital marketing team of 2030, the impact of AI agents on roles and workflows, and the use of data, analytics and MarTech to drive measurable growth. A panel titled “The AI Hangover” discussed lessons after the initial enthusiasm for generative AI. Discussions on credibility and responsibility covered doctor personal branding, ethics and the emerging doctor‑creator ecosystem. Another session analysed healthcare brand valuation and its link to business value and fundraising. The compliance‑focused panel “Compliance Isn’t the Obstacle, It’s the MOAT” detailed navigation of National Medical Commission (NMC), Association of Surgeons of India (ASCI) and Data Protection Personal Data (DPDP) requirements while building responsible brands. The final knowledge panel explored medical tourism and factors influencing international patients’ choice of India and specific providers.
Vision 2030 and 2027 Roadmap
The inaugural session, themed “Marketing the Future of Healthcare,” unveiled AHMP Vision 2030, launched the AHMP ASCENT platform, presented an opening film and featured a leaders’ spotlight. Vision 2030 aims to strengthen healthcare marketing as a recognised professional discipline and to create a more connected national ecosystem for practitioners across communication, marketing and growth. Building on existing initiatives—AHMP Dialogues, the learning platform, Professionals Day, AHMP Connect and the Healthcare Marketing Maestros Awards—the foundation outlined its 2027 priorities: expanding pan‑India engagement, growing an inclusive professional community, enhancing continuous learning through CPHM and related programmes, establishing four zonal committees (North, South, East, West), deepening industry‑academia collaboration and developing a structured framework for ethical healthcare marketing standards.
Awards and Recognitions
The summit hosted the Healthcare Marketing Maestros Awards 2026, honouring 27 gold and silver winners across categories such as innovation, healthcare marketing education, patient communication, emerging talent, social media, digital campaigns, brand development, creative advertising, performance marketing and analytics, healthcare PR, community impact and disease‑awareness initiatives. Lifetime Achievement awards were presented to Ms. Suganthy Sundararaj, Senior Public Relations Specialist and Regional PR Head at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai (Female award), and Prof. Dr. Ashok Thiakarajan (Male award). Organizational awardees included MI Labs / Askeva, Unicus Technology Private Limited, MGM Healthcare, BCC Healthcare Branding, Devadoss Hospital and Ortho‑One. Student and young‑professional recognitions were given through the BizMock Awards and Digital Poster Awards. An independent jury of industry and marketing professionals evaluated the awards.
Partnerships and Networking
The event was supported by platinum, gold and silver partners, as well as knowledge, media, filming, registration, venue partners and stall sponsors. In addition to the formal programme, networking sessions and an Experience Hub facilitated interactions among hospital leaders, marketers, clinicians, entrepreneurs, consultants, agency heads, technology firms and solution providers, fostering potential collaborations.
Outlook
Chairperson Mohamed Ilias stated that the momentum generated by AHMP CON 2026 will be leveraged to broaden reach, strengthen professional connections, deliver continuous education, ensure regional representation, promote industry‑academia collaboration and establish clearer ethical standards, thereby advancing the profession of healthcare marketing in India.