10-16-2024

Is Your HCP Website Putting Your Brand and Compliance at Risk?

Shak Schiff

HCP Website QA Review: Averting Potential Revenue Loss and Compliance Risks
Image by Anna Palinska from Pixabay

How One Pharma Company Avoided Costly Fines and Lost Prescriptions with a Website Assessment

In the pharmaceutical industry, every detail matters. A single compliance violation, usability flaw, or branding inconsistency on your Healthcare Professional (HCP) website can have serious consequences—from regulatory fines to damaged trust with prescribers.

For one leading pharmaceutical company, a routine website assessment turned out to be a game-changer. It uncovered critical issues that, if left unchecked, could have resulted in millions in potential losses, lower HCP engagement, and a damaged reputation.

The Risks of an Unchecked HCP Website

Pharmaceutical websites must be held to the highest standards because they serve as essential tools for HCPs seeking accurate, up-to-date information about treatments. However, like many organizations, this pharma company was unknowingly exposing itself to risk:

  • Regulatory Compliance Issues – A failure to meet global data protection regulations can lead to hefty fines and legal trouble.
  • Poor User Experience – A frustrating or confusing website discourages HCPs from engaging, potentially reducing prescriptions.
  • Branding and Content Errors – Inconsistencies can erode trust and create confusion about the product.
  • Functionality Failures – If key features like video playback, forms, or NPI lookup don’t work, essential information may not reach prescribers.

While these may seem like minor issues at first glance, their impact can be far-reaching and costly.

What the Website Assessment Revealed

BadTesting conducted a comprehensive review of the HCP website and identified multiple critical risks, including:

  • Cookie consent violations – The site was not correctly handling data privacy regulations, potentially exposing the company to significant fines under laws like GDPR and CCPA.
  • Responsiveness issues – The website did not display properly on mobile and tablet devices, frustrating HCPs trying to access important information on the go.
  • Content discrepancies – Inconsistent messaging created confusion about the brand and its products, leading to a potential loss of prescriber trust.
  • Broken functionality – Features like video playback and NPI lookup weren’t working, limiting the ability of HCPs to access critical information.

The Business Impact of These Issues

Although the company had not yet experienced a compliance violation or a drop in engagement, history has shown that similar website issues in the pharmaceutical industry have led to:

  • Regulatory penalties reaching millions of dollars for non-compliance with privacy laws.
  • A decline in HCP engagement, reducing the likelihood of new prescriptions.
  • A damaged reputation, making it harder to build trust with prescribers in the long run.

The cost of ignoring these problems is far greater than the investment required to fix them proactively.

How BadTesting Helped the Company Turn Risk into Opportunity

With these risks identified, the company had the opportunity to address problems before they turned into crises. By working with BadTesting, they:

  • Achieved regulatory compliance – Ensuring that all cookie consent settings aligned with legal standards, avoiding potential fines.
  • Improved user experience – Fixing responsiveness issues so HCPs could seamlessly access information from any device.
  • Strengthened brand consistency – Aligning content and messaging across the site to maintain credibility and reinforce trust with prescribers.
  • Restored full functionality – Ensuring every key feature worked as intended, allowing HCPs to get the information they need without obstacles.

Why Proactive QA Matters for Pharma Websites

A pharmaceutical website isn’t just a digital presence—it’s a critical touchpoint that educates, informs, and builds relationships with prescribers. The success of your product depends on:

  • Trust – HCPs rely on your website for accurate, up-to-date information. If they encounter inconsistencies or broken features, their confidence in your brand weakens.
  • Compliance – Regulatory bodies actively monitor digital assets. Failing to meet standards can lead to costly penalties and legal trouble.
  • Engagement – If your site isn’t user-friendly, HCPs may stop engaging, leading to fewer prescriptions and lost revenue.

What About Your HCP Website?

If you manage an HCP website, ask yourself:

  • Are you 100% confident that your site meets compliance regulations?
  • Could usability issues be frustrating prescribers and discouraging engagement?
  • Is your content and branding aligned to reinforce trust with HCPs?
  • Do all key features work properly, or are errors preventing HCPs from accessing critical information?

Protect Your Brand, Compliance, and Engagement with a Website Assessment

Regular website QA isn’t just a technical necessity—it’s a strategic investment that protects your brand from legal risks, lost revenue, and reduced engagement. Don’t wait for compliance violations, frustrated users, or lost trust to reveal problems.

Contact BadTesting today to schedule an assessment and ensure your website is working for you—not against you.

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