Health vs Medical Writing: What’s the Difference?
After several months of feeling unmotivated with my copywriting business, everything suddenly became clear. I wanted to “niche down” and focus on health and medical writing—to create content that had a deeper purpose, content that could improve people’s lives.
I don’t know why it took me so long to realise this. I’ve technically been doing this for years already. Many of my copywriting clients were health clinics, fitness coaches, and research labs. Now, I just needed to hone in on this.
For this new direction, I needed a new title. But what should I call myself? The terms “health” and “medicine” are often used interchangeably, but could the same be said for health and medical writers? Or are there differences between the two roles?
The short answer is yes, there are differences between health and medical writing. The long answer? Well, you’ll have to keep reading to find out.
Definitions of Health Writing & Medical Writing
What is Health Writing?
Health writing can be defined as crafting various types of health-related content, primarily aimed at communicating health information to the general public.
Given the vast scope of the industry, health writing can cover a wide range of topics. For example, health content may offer advice on making healthier lifestyle choices or provide information about disease causes, symptoms, and treatments.
Health journalism and news stories about the latest medical research also fall under the health writing umbrella, as do consumer-focused marketing materials for health and wellness brands.
Essentially, if the content is about health and read by the general public, it’s likely health writing.
What is Medical Writing?
Medical writing can be defined as creating technical documents intended for healthcare professionals or others working in the healthcare industry.
Since medical writing is aimed at people with a high level of scientific knowledge, the content is highly technical. Regulatory documents are even more technical and must comply with stringent regulatory standards.
Examples of medical content could include slide decks and posters for scientific conferences, grant proposals, scientific manuscripts, or professional magazines for medical practitioners.
Essentially, if the content is technical and intended for healthcare professionals, it’s likely medical writing.
What’s the Difference Between Health & Medical Writing?
Types of Content
The main difference between health and medical writing lies in the types of content produced.
I’ve mentioned some already, but here’s a more comprehensive list of the content types that typically fall into each category.
Health writing content types:
Articles and blog posts on health and wellness topics
News stories and feature articles for the general public
Consumer-focused marketing materials for health products
Patient education materials and guides
Social media posts promoting healthy lifestyles
Content for health websites or magazines like Runner’s World
Website copywriting for health-related brands and businesses
Medical writing content types:
News stories and feature articles for medical professionals
Marketing materials for pharmaceutical or medical device companies
Slide decks, posters, or presentations for scientific conferences
Media releases about medical research
Medical or healthcare white papers
Clinical study reports, scientific protocols, and manuscripts
Education materials for medical professionals (CME)
Regulatory documents for drug approvals and clinical trials
Grant proposals or applications
Technical manuals and guidelines for healthcare professionals
Content Objectives
Health and medical writing have distinct purposes.
Health writing educates the public about health-related topics, whereas medical writing conveys scientific information to medical professionals.
To fulfil these objectives, the communications are designed differently:
Health writing is designed to be engaging, accessible, and easy to understand, aiming to promote healthier lifestyles and increase awareness of medical conditions and treatments.
Medical writing is intended to support clinical decision-making, advance scientific research, and ensure compliance with regulatory standards. Precision, clarity, and compliance with technical specifications are critical.
Target Audiences
Another core difference between health and medical writing is who the content is aimed at—the general public vs. professionals working in the healthcare industry.
The target audience for health writing is the general public, including:
People seeking information on health and wellness
Patients and their families
Health and fitness enthusiasts
Consumers looking for health products and services
The target audience for medical writing is healthcare professionals, such as:
Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers
Medical researchers and scientists
Regulatory agency staff
Medical educators and trainers
Pharmaceutical, medical device, and biotech companies
Skills Required
A less obvious difference between health and medical writing is the skills needed for each job.
Of course, there is some overlap. It goes without saying, but excellent writing skills are a must. Both health and medical writers also need strong research abilities, high attention to detail, and some level of scientific understanding.
However, each field also demands its own specialised skill sets.
Skills unique to health writers:
Search engine optimisation: While SEO is unlikely to matter for medical writing, it’s key for health writers creating online content. Showing up in search engines is key for health brands and businesses to get their content found and read by the general public.
Explaining complex topics simply: One of the biggest challenges with health communications is writing in a way everyone—regardless of scientific background—can understand. Health writers must perfect this skill to ensure the health information they share is accessible to all.
Skills unique to medical writers:
Understanding of regulatory guidelines: Medical writers must be well-versed in regulatory guidelines and standards. This knowledge is critical when preparing documents for drug approvals, clinical trials, and other regulatory submissions.
Ability to interpret complex data: Medical writers must be able to interpret and present complex data accurately. This includes understanding scientific research methods, statistical analysis, and translating detailed findings into clear, precise documentation.
Professional Qualifications
You don’t need an advanced degree to become a health or medical writer, but most have at least a bachelor’s degree.
Those with life sciences degrees are more likely to become medical writers. This makes sense considering the intricacies of the role—medical writers need a deeper level of scientific understanding to communicate complex data.
Thus, most companies employing medical writers want at least an undergraduate degree in life sciences, and many prefer candidates with an advanced degree (e.g., MSc, PhD).
In comparison, health writers come from broader backgrounds. Many hold journalism or communication degrees, whereas others may have backgrounds in science backgrounds like me (read more on my About Page).
Looking for a Health or Medical Writer?
Whether you need engaging health content for the general public or technical documents for healthcare professionals, choosing a writer with the right expertise is crucial.
So, what title did I choose? Well, I sit between the two: I classify myself as a health and medical writer.
I primarily create health content for consumer audiences—copywriting for wellness brands, SEO-friendly blogs and articles, and patient education materials. But while regulatory writing isn’t my thing, medical education and pharmaceutical copywriting are services I offer.
If you need health or medical writing services, contact me for a quote. I’d love to discuss how we can work together.
