Most of those working in a hospital pharmacy or chemist have heard the statement “Hi, I am a medical rep from…..”.
A Medical Representative is a person who is the link between a pharmaceutical manufacturer of health product and technology and the prescribers/doctors or secondary or primary users. We are the marketing agents of health products.
My experience at Generics Africa Ltd for one year and eight months now, as a Medical Sales Representative has been phenomenal. The uniqueness of products and my background training as a Pharmacist is a perfect combo.
I detail/market narcotics and psychotropics used in anesthesia practice. I appreciate the diversity of my training as a Pharmacist. I do not need training on molecules, indications……..pharmacology and who are the target patients.
The mountain is the art of sale, product positioning and generating sales revenues. I have come to appreciate that science is always interesting until you try to make money out of it.
After tedious work of Research and development and its success, coming up with new pharma products or equivalent generics, every company needs medical representative with right combination of skills to make the effort commercially viable.
One of the challenges experienced, especially during this Covid era, has been lack of audience from the doctors. The business becomes hard.
The ethical nature of the job is a very slippery path as various teams do anything to push sales, giving offers to prescribers, holding expensive CMEs……
I occasionally get good support from the doctors and a few of them appreciate my comprehension and knowledge on the drugs. Once in while I get calls on opinion of dosing, product availability and alternative drugs from a pharmacists perspective. My fellow pharmacists have given me a listening ear and good cooperation at all the levels, from retail pharmacies to referral hospitals, which encourages me to go on in this area.
I have gained a lot of support from my company, particularly my Boss and Manager, Anthony Nyoike. Working as a medical representative has allowed me to see the wider scope of a pharmacist’s practice and a gap that can only be filled by pharmacists. My interaction skill has also improved since I get to meet people from different backgrounds and field of work daily e.g security guards, secretaries, medical doctors, pharmacists, clinical officers…..
More pharmacists should embrace this area of practise. This will ensure Pharmacists in Kenya gain more control of the pharmacy practice from product research all the way to product use and even the marketing feedback.
I have learnt there is far more opportunities for pharmacists to work, show case our skills and make a positive impact in the health sector. We could support each other across board and influence other cadres to appreciate our contribution.
I hope to see more pharmacists joining this path.
Dr. Lawrence Njane – Medical Representative, Generics Africa LTD