Considering Switzerland?

With various mergers and acquisitions, patent expiries and general outlook in the UK for housing being potentially dire, many pharmaceutical professionals we work with are considering their options to live and work abroad. Renting out their homes and relocating to make a name for themselves with one of the leading pharmaceuticals organisations in the world, is not just an option for some but the best option for many.

Any why not? In real terms salaries in the UK have been slipping for a couple of years and many of the US and UK-based companies prefer to keep global decision-making and strategy directed from on the other side of the Atlantic but there are Swiss companies where decision-making is on this side of the pond. Pharmaceutical professionals are very much attracted to this and want to work in the central, global hub of their specialist field. The fringe benefits of Switzerland being one of the most spectacular countries visually for the great outdoors, the winter sports and their exceptionally well run infrastructure, makes Option Suisse even more attractive.

Switzerland is well-known for it’s a high standard of living but people also assume it has a much higher cost of living. This is only part of the story. Compared to the UK, salaries are much higher at around 60-70% more and taxes are lower than the UK by a long way. Going out for a meal and entertaining is more expensive but you will find housing rentals in many parts of London and the South East much more expensive than in Switzerland. Crime is very low, and although the healthcare system is private, it is not run for profit, well managed and resources.

The strong demand for UK and Europeans to work in Switzerland is driven by Switzerland being too small to support the three major pharmaceutical companies based there (you can take the train from one end of Switzerland to the other in just three or so hours). Two major companies are based in Basel in the north, and one in Geneva in the south. There are over forty small-to-medium sized pharmaceutical and medical device companies clustered around Basel, Genève and Zürich in the centre.

Of particular demand, are mid-to-senior level experienced professionals in the major disciplines, such as Medical / Clinical Ops, Medical Affairs, Regulatory Affairs and CMC, Drug Safety, Health Economics, Outcomes Research and Market Access, but generally, you might expect roles for every discipline.

Would you like to know more? Feel free to ask any questions of Matt Greig, Advanced Regulatory, the recruitment and search specialists for Clinical, Medical, Regulatory Affairs, Health Economics and Quality on +44 (0)207 697 7300 ( email: mg@advregulatory.com / browse: www.advregulatory.com )