Are Doctors Really Not Hired for Pharma Roles in India? Insights Needed from Industry Peers

Hi all,

My name is Nida Aziz, and I'm working as an HR Executive with a leading group of pharmaceutical companies in Karachi, Pakistan.

We were once interviewing an MBBS doctor who was interested in joining the Indian pharmaceutical industry but couldn't do so because "Pharmaceutical companies in India don't hire doctors as Product Managers, Training Managers, Business Development Managers," etc.

Is this true? Because in Pakistan, it is a common practice to hire doctors in pharmaceutical marketing and business development departments. Don't you think only pharmacists should be considered in these positions?

Anyway, please tell me if there's such a thing as not hiring doctors in pharma companies in India or elsewhere in the world.

Thanks in advance!!

Nida Aziz

Dear Aziz ji,

As far as my knowledge is concerned, for such positions, the services of individuals with a B. Pharma, M. Pharma, or Doctorate in Pharmacy are generally utilized.

Regards,
PBS KUMAR

Thank you for your response!

I just want to know, is it by law not to hire doctors in pharma companies in India? I have heard about this and I would like to confirm it from a reliable source because in our country, it is a common practice to hire doctors as product managers, etc.

Hello. I am working as an HR professional in a pharmaceutical organization. We appoint doctors in Indian pharmaceutical organizations to prepare medical windows (information) for other doctors and provide suggestions to marketing personnel on sales strategies, how to approach doctors and pharmacists, and deliver medical presentations to marketing teams. We also assist in training new marketing personnel, among other responsibilities. We have a senior doctor in our company.

Regards,
Tejesh

Dear Nida,

Yes, in India, pharmaceutical companies do hire MBBS doctors as Product Managers, Medical Coordinators, Training Managers, etc. There are even individuals who hold MBBS degrees and have completed an MBA, working in the Indian Pharma industry. Companies such as Astra, Cipla, Dr. Reddys, Cadilla, etc., offer such opportunities.

Prem
premosheen@gmail.com

Hi Nida,

If we talk more specifically, the Indian pharma industry (Ethical product promotion) utilizes doctors to extend the product with proper medical justification such as technical references, indications (clinical usage), product positioning in terms of customers (doctors), dosage schedules, USPs (unique selling propositions), etc.

Doctors act as medical consultants where the product management department (PMD) coordinates with these medical consultants to evolve a marketing strategy, depending upon the stage of the product life cycle and the current market scenario of the company's product portfolio.