Career Opportunities For Pharma and Pharma Management Graduates

1. Opportunities for Pharma Graduates & PGs
By
Prabhakar Bethi
M.Pharm, MMM

2. The Indian pharma industry is on a good growth path
and is likely to be in the top 10 global markets in value
term by 2020
- PwC – CII report “India Pharma Inc: Gearing up for the next level
of growth”

3. IPM
The pharmaceutical industry in India is more stable
compared to other industries and it is expected to
continue so with impressive performance
3

4. IPM Growth Trends

5. Therapy Areas

6. New Small and Medium Enterprises(SMEs)
• New small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are also
likely to play a substantial role in the growth of the
India's pharma sector.
• According to the consulting firm Grant Thornton, the
country will also see the largest number of merger
and acquisitions (M&A) in the pharmaceutical and
healthcare sector in the coming years.
6

7. “The Indian pharmaceutical industry is a success story
providing employment for millions and ensuring
that essential drugs at affordable prices are
available to the vast population of this sub-
continent.”
- Richard Gerster

8. Challenges Faced by Industry
• Introduction of Uniform Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing
Practices(UCPMP)
• Delays in clinical trial approvals
• Uncertainties over the FDI policy
• Compulsory licensing
• Uncertainty from DPCO & NLEM
• Shorter brand lifecycle
• Unprecedented Employees attrition rate
• Mushrooming regional /local players
8

9. Conventional Career Options
• Sales & Marketing (MBA will be advantageous)
• Manufacturing Chemist
• Quality Control/Quality Assurance
• Medical Department
• Training and Development
• Hospital Pharmacists in Private & Government
Organizations
• Community Pharmacist (working in Drug Store or Retail
Pharmacy)
• Drug inspector/Government Analyst
9

10. • R&D laboratories
• Formulation Development
• Distribution & Supply Chain Management
• Exports & International marketing
• Regulatory affairs
Conventional Career Options

11. • Medical Transcription
• Data Manager
• Market research organizations like – IMS, AWAACS etc
• Pharma domain specialist in consulting firms like
Accenture, McKinsey etc.
• Pharma IT companies, Digital marketing
11
Not so Conventional Career Options

12. Additional opportunities for PGs
• CROs -as medical underwriter, Data validation
associate, clinical research associate etc.
• Medical writing/Medical Sciences Liaison/ Medical
Advisor
• Academics
12

13. Newer Career Opportunities
• Medical and Scientific Services and Communication Agencies
• Scientific publications
• Medical tourism, Business Process Outsourcing (BPO),
Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO)
• Pharmaceutical Journalism offers rewarding career for
pharmacists with writing and editing skills.
• Intellectual Property Right (IPR)
• Digital marketing companies
• IT Sector- Medical billing, Medical Coding and Insurance claim
13

14. Pharmacovigilance
• WIPRO, Accenture, Cognizant, Quintiles, TCS, PPD, I Gate Patni
Computers, ICON Solutions and Quantum Solutions, etc.
• Central drug standards control organizations (CDSCO) has also
made it mandatory for all pharma companies those are
working in India to establish a pharmacovigilance department
and submit pharmacovigilance reports time to time.
• As a result, most of the pharmaceutical companies outsource
their pharmacovigilance program effectively with the help of
these IT companies.
• These firms work for both clinical trials and post marketing
surveillance.
• Government of India launched the National
pharmacovigilance program of India (PvPI) which encourages
pharmacovigilance reporting from time to time from different
health care organizations 14

15. Acquire additional short-term qualifications
• Short-term postgraduate diploma courses in
• Regulatory affairs
• Intellectual property rights
• Pharmacovigilance etc.
15
You can into CROs, KPO, BPO and Regulatory Process
Outsourcing and MNCs who have in house depts.

16. Opportunities with Consultancy Firms
Pharmacy grads are absorbed by several consultancy firms as
pharmaceutical industry and hospitals are their big clients
16
• Deloitte
• KPMG
• McKinsey
• Accenture etc.

17. Emerging fields of career opportunities
• Nanotechnology
• Neutraceuticals and
• Herbal drug industries are rocking in market
17

18. • A person is only limited by their imagination
• Many people pursuing Pharmacy never even realize
there are other options other than conventional.
18

19. Practical Nuggets
• You should inculcate some expected traits like
punctuality, a go-getter attitude, always ready to
learn and mingle.
• You may have sound subject knowledge but should
be in a position to communicate effectively in an
impressive way.
19

20. Keep in Mind
20
The Industry does not pay for your degree or learning
but what you contribute and how best you deliver the
results
Mere possession of a degree is not
sufficient to claim a job

21. Take Home Message
• Have a mentor
• Be solution minded
• Have Flexibility in Approach
• Take Initiative
• Sharpen Social Skills
• Focus on Productivity, Efficiency and Effectiveness
• Develop Creative Thinking Ability
• Develop Good Communication Skills
• Continuously Learn and Update Yourself While Working
• Nurture Leadership Qualities
21

22. Good Luck in Your Aspiring Career