Doctored Truths urges pharma to lead the fight against health misinformation
October 28, 2025 | Doctored Truths, Havas Lynx, Havas Village Manchester, Health Misinformation
“Doctored Truths” exposes the escalating crisis of health misinformation and disinformation, which has been ranked the world’s top short-term risk to the world, for the second year in a row. Havas Lynx calls upon the pharmaceutical industry to leverage its unique position and vast clinical data to combat this growing threat to patient health and public trust.
The Doctored Truths white paper highlights a critical erosion of trust in medical expertise, with proprietary Point.1 data revealing declining confidence in healthcare professionals (HCPs) across generations and only half of patients trusting non-government organisations like the World Health Organisation. As patients increasingly turn to digital platforms for health guidance, nearly one-third of social media health content now contains misinformation, leaving individuals vulnerable to conspiracy theories, viral fads, and unqualified advice.
The tangible impact of this misinformation overload is stark:
- Four out of five HCPs believe their patients have experienced physical or mental harm due to misinformation
- A third of patients regret a health decision made based on misinformation because they acted on misinformation
- 61% of HCPs report that misinformation has caused a loss of trust between them and their patients
This crisis is affecting every therapy area, undermining public health, social cohesion, and even economic stability, particularly impacting vulnerable groups where scientific understanding is limited or access to care is constrained.
“The spread of health misinformation isn’t just a concern; it’s a profound threat to patient well-being and the very foundation of evidence-based medicine,” says Claire Knapp, Chief Executive Officer at Havas Lynx. “Our ‘Doctored Truths’ white paper not only illuminates the scale of this problem but also underscores the immense responsibility and opportunity for the pharmaceutical industry. Pharma could hold the antidote – with its deep scientific expertise and extensive reach, it is uniquely positioned to reclaim trust and safeguard health outcomes. It’s not just an ethical imperative, but a strategic necessity for the industry’s future.”
The expectations for the pharmaceutical sector to act are clear. Point.1 data shows that 71% of HCPs believe pharma has a responsibility to tackle misinformation, yet only 41% feel enough is currently being done. Havas Lynx asserts that by stepping up to this challenge, pharma can not only shape its future reputation but also reinforce the very foundations of evidence-based healthcare.
Read the full “Doctored Truths” report and learn how your organisation can contribute to this vital initiative here.
This content was provided by Havas Lynx
Company Details
Latest Content from Havas Lynx
The Future of Decisioning
The traditional model for gathering insights is reaching a breaking point. Healthcare Professionals (HCPs) are increasingly time-poor and difficult to reach. Simultaneously, the costs of traditional market research are rising,…
Havas Lynx celebrates 40 years of impact
Starting out in 1986 as a team of two in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, Havas Lynx has much to celebrate, having grown to become an international healthcare communications agency with offices…
Doctored Truths
When the truth is doctored, lives hang in the balance.
Climate of Health
What’s happening to our planet is having an undeniable and devastating impact across every aspect of human health. What harms the world, harms us all. And these effects are so…
Passion and Pain: Millennial HCP Report
When we investigate millennial healthcare professionals (HCPs), we see a generation experiencing a clash of two existences. On one hand, harness their passion and it’s like bottling lightening. On the other, a more sobering story…
Health for All
Stories matter. They bind people together, create a sense of connection, and engage our thoughts, emotions, and imagination all at once. They show us other people’s perspectives and let us…
Doctored Truths urges pharma to lead the fight against health misinformation
“Doctored Truths” exposes the escalating crisis of health misinformation and disinformation, which has been ranked the world’s top short-term risk to the world, for the second year in a row….
Havas Lynx Welcomes New Leadership Hires
Havas Lynx announces the appointment of Ayesha Walawalkar as Chief Strategy Officer, and Talin Apkarian as Havas Lynx Hudson Managing Director.
Havas to Open New Manchester Village at Circle Square
The global communications group will unite six agencies under one roof in a purpose-built, hybrid workspace at the heart of Manchester’s innovation district
Havas Lynx launches proprietary data product to drive meaningful change across pharma
Leading global healthcare communications agency, Havas Lynx , has launched its proprietary data platform, Point.1, to help pharmaceutical companies to gain a deeper understanding of healthcare professionals (HCPs) to drive…