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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 OB/RuGUi/6K6udVZpnnpDogh2vdoyeSQgP+q1LlDeC/wV2Z9HqdgXmcDEK4lFipc
 YL+XXo7l/iewzicaPuGRXw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001089473-05-000008.txt : 20050211
<SEC-HEADER>0001089473-05-000008.hdr.sgml : 20050211
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050211130520
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001089473-05-000008
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050209
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050211
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050211

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VENTIV HEALTH INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001089473
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-MANAGEMENT CONSULTING SERVICES [8742]
		IRS NUMBER:				522181734
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 COTTONTAIL LANE
		STREET 2:		VANTAGE COURT NORTH
		CITY:			SOMERSET
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08873

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 COTTONTAIL LANE
		STREET 2:		VANTAGE COURT NORTH
		CITY:			SOMERSET
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08873

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	SNYDER HEALTHCARE SERVICES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19990624

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			JENNINGS MARK E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001019324
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRICAL INDUSTRIAL APPARATUS [3620]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0731

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-30318
		FILM NUMBER:		05596702

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4125623700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE GATEWAY CTR
		STREET 2:		19TH FL
		CITY:			PITTSBURGH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15222
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-02-09</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001089473</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VENTIV HEALTH INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>vtiv</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001019324</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JENNINGS MARK E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O GENERATION PARTNERS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE GREENWICH OFFICE PARK</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENWICH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06830</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>21.96</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-02-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.96</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-02-09</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The 25,000 options issued to the reporting person on February 9, 2005 will vest and become exercisable in equal installments on the first four anniversaries of the date of issuance provided the reporting person continues to serve on the Company's Board of Directors on such dates.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Mark E. Jennings</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-02-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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