The October 2016 Issue of MedicinMan features articles by K. Hariram, Vivek Hattangadi, Anup Soans and has a special focus on ethics and morals in the healthcare profession. Other topics covered include new product launches, the role of emotions in pharma sales and sales coaching.
The Indian Pharmaceutical Market (IPM) was valued atRs. 10,025 crores in the month of July 2016 clocking a 14.7% growth over same period last year (SPLY). This was the first time ever the market crossed the 10,000 crore mark in a single month.
Q 1. Tell us about your journey as a pharma entrepreneur and what made you venture into pharma and stay on in pharma?
My journey started with two good decisions, one- to be a Medical Representative (MR) in Mumbai, which built a strong foundation and the other, to join Helios, a new pharma company, which was like a baptism of fire. Together, they molded me well.
I was promoted as a Front Line Manager (FLM) within a year. And after spending four excellent years in Helios, I joined Group Pharma as Product Manager (PM) and ever since, it’s been an exciting learning experience.Â
I was exposed to Pharma very early in life as my dad was in J L Morison, as part of the promoter-team of Warren Pharma. At home, I was the designated telephone operator and order processing clerk. Those were the days of trunk-calls - calling managers and distributors to note down orders. Hence, I was exposed to the excitement of targets, achievements, deficits and campaigns very early in my life. The idea of ‘work-life balance’ was not in vogue. One would look to their parents who worked long hours with pride making it something you wanted to emulate. Things have changed a lot but I would not trade the decision I made, to get into and stay in Pharma.
GST Special Issue carrying an interview with Sunil Attavar - CMD, Group Pharma and President, Karnataka Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Manufacturers Association (KDPMA)
In the dynamic world of pharmaceutical marketing, staying ahead of the curve is essential for success. As technology continues to evolve, so do the opportunities for innovative campaigns. One area where pharma marketers can make a significant impact is in raising awareness about non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and promoting real-world studies and clinical trials.
Editor's Note - This issue of MedicinMan is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Tarun Gupta, TG as he was fondly called. Executive Editor, Salil Kallianpur, dear friend Subrato Banerjee and long-time MedicinMan patron Vivek Hattangadi, pen their tributes to TG.
An interview with Salil Kallianpur - Executive VP at GSK Primary Care on the state of digital in pharma marketing and pointers for digital marketing success.
To me, patient centricity is as fascinating a concept as it is contradictory. It is fascinating because it puts power into the hands of the patient. And it is contradictory because pharma does not like giving away power over its messages or processes. Pharma has traditionally never enjoyed interaction and has depended on ‘pushing’ messages across rather than having ‘conversations’. It probably also explains why we make do with medical reps who are not the sharpest knives in the drawer and scarcely invest in sharpening them.