Email open rates in healthcare hover around 20%. WhatsApp open rates exceed 98%. The conclusion is obvious, but healthcare marketing on WhatsApp requires discipline: consent, relevance and timing are everything.
Start with service messages, not campaigns
Appointment confirmations, report-ready alerts and discharge follow-ups are service messages patients genuinely want. They build trust and prime your audience for future campaigns.
Campaign ideas that work
- Health-camp announcements to catchment-area patients
- Preventive package offers (annual check-ups, vaccinations)
- Doctor visit schedules for satellite clinics
- Post-visit feedback with a one-tap rating
The compliance checklist
Always obtain opt-in consent at registration, include an easy opt-out in every message, and never share clinical details in messages. An HIMS with built-in WhatsApp workflows keeps consent records linked to patient profiles — audit-ready by design.
Written by Sneha Kulkarni
Growth Lead at HIMS. We help Indian hospitals digitize operations and achieve ABDM compliance — without the chaos.