Shape of Future Pharma Operations – Emerging A Pragmatic Outlook?

Just as newer reports come almost every day on safety, efficacy, dosage interval or span of immunity of Covid vaccines, similar reports are also reaching us about the possible future shape of pharma sales and marketing operations. Some hardcore optimists, … Continue reading

Multichannel Marketing: Two Important Pharma Trends

On September 6, 2018, Reuters reported the announcement of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) that it would cut about 650 positions in the United States related to a global restructuring program. This includes 450 Medical (sales) Representatives (MR). Similar announcements on job cuts for MRs … Continue reading

Digitization or Digitalization: What’s Seen More in Indian Pharma?

Just before this New Year, a doctor friend from a large city of India invited me for dinner, as I happened to be there for a couple of days. Dr. Srikanth Kashikar (name changed) is one of my longtime friends, … Continue reading

Multi-channel Engagement: A New Normal In Pharma Marketing

The 2015 Report of AffinityMonitor reconfirms that access to important doctors for pharma Medical Representatives (MRs) continues to decline. Now, fewer than half of all doctors are truly accessible to the MRs, down from nearly 80 percent in 2008. In … Continue reading

Evolving Scenario of Non-Personal Promotion in Pharma Marketing

In the Indian pharmaceutical industry, ‘Non-Personal Promotion (NPP)’ is gradually expected to assume much greater strategic importance than what it is today, if at all, in the overall strategic marketing ball game. This process would get hastened as and when … Continue reading

Pharma Sales Communication: Would ‘Cafeteria Approach’ Be More Productive Today?

For sales communication, quality of access of pharma Medical Representatives (MRs) to many important and busy doctors has been steadily declining over the past several years, all over the world, and India is no exception. This is mainly because the number of … Continue reading

Ringside View Of A Key Pharma Job Missing ‘The X Factor’

Just the other day, a well known doctor and a long-time friend of mine invited me for a friendly chat over lunch, after a long while. I had no option really but to accept the invite, as the warmth of his … Continue reading