Articles

A new UK scheme to introduce qualifications for clinical research staff will give Britain extra credibility in an increasingly competitive market for clinical trials research into new medicines.
A new UK scheme to introduce qualifications for clinical research staff will give Britain extra credibility in an increasingly competitive market for clinical trials research into new medicines. The new standards and qualifications will emerge from co-operation between two leading organisations, the Institute of Clinical Research (ICR) and the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), it was announced today. The standards would give British clinical research personnel additional standing and emphasise Britain’s status as a centre for quality research, because their ability to cond…

The housemates constant sun worship anticipates what many of us will be doing in our gardens this summer but who sets the best example to the viewing public of how to tan safely, and who is going to e
As the caged denizens of the Big Brother house enter their fifth week of captivity it looks very much as though all of the interesting housemates are going to be evicted before the series reaches its conclusion. This leaves us, the clinically addicted viewing public with something of a problem, we are compelled to watch their lethargic antics, but without feisty Narinder, loopy Penny and misfit Stuart, what is there to snare our attention? Well there’s always the option of taking a zen-like fascination in their ongoing quest to get a tan that vaguely approaches Josh’s. The housemates constant…

Fully introduced in September 2000, Individual Learning Accounts offer financial incentives to anyone over the age of 19 to begin training or courses in a variety of disciplines. Any British citizen o
Tony Blair’s mantra of ‘Education, Education, Education’ may have been enough to satisfy the electorate that this was the first Labour government worthy of a second full term in power but, for the majority of the population, what is happening in our schools remains a mystery. However a commitment to enabling lifelong learning, and a second chance for people to get the education they want was also an element in both the 1997 and 2001 Labour manifesto’s. So what has been done for the population over the age of 19? Individual Learning Accounts are the answer. Fully introduced in September 2000,…

There are some enduring myths going round the industry too.
As has been mentioned, everyone working in pharmaceutical sales has to sit and pass this exam within two years of entering the industry. The exam is not difficult in itself, as it is all multiple choice questions of one sort or another. However, there is a vast pool of information to be absorbed from which the questions may be derived. There is a tendency (for very bright graduates, in particular) to receive their syllabus, glance at it, and decide they'll look at it properly "later". The problem is that, all too often, later becomes about 3 weeks before the exam and then when they start, they suddenly realise just how much they need to know and panic! If a company has a structured training programme or uses an outside train…

Contrary to the opinion of irascible doctors up and down the country, medical sales reps have a solid understanding of the fundamentals of both healthcare and the NHS. Experienced reps enhance this kn
Contrary to the opinion of irascible doctors up and down the country, medical sales reps have a solid understanding of the fundamentals of both healthcare and the NHS. Experienced reps enhance this knowledge during their many years interaction with the medical profession but it is often kick started by study for the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry exam. The ABPi insist that all pharmaceutical sales representatives pass an examination within two years of starting work in the industry, the Association’s stated aims in making reps take this exam are, (a) To ensure the overall q…

Like murder (apparently), resignation gets easier the more times you do it, but for the employee preparing to take the plunge for the first time it can still be an intimidating process. From the first
With the end of the days where jobs for life were a possibility, let alone a reality, resigning has become a skill we must all learn to survive. Like murder (apparently), resignation gets easier the more times you do it, but for the employee preparing to take the plunge for the first time it can still be an intimidating process. From the first ‘can I have a quick word?’ to the last drink at the leaving party, a month of awkwardness is on the cards. To deal with the situation in as professional a way as possible it is worth taking time out to look at the situation you are about to create from a…

In the second part of our feature about stress we look at five more easy methods for reducing your stress levels…
In the second part of our feature about stress we look at five more easy methods for reducing your stress levels… 6. Forget being number one The desire to be the best has been the impetus behind many of humankind’s greatest achievements but it is also a primary driver behind depression and, therefore stress. Every day we are indoctrinated with an idea of success manufactured by advertising executives and film writers but we seemingly find it impossible to see the contradiction between George Best the footballing god and George Best the incurable alcoholic being the same man. Nobody is perfect in the real world, David Beckham is a bit thick, Stephen Hawking is no looker. By adop…

Landen Associates provide tailored 3 day training courses for graduates looking to break into a career in Medical Sales. Intensive, small group courses take place every month and cover all aspects of
Landen Associates provide tailored 3 day training courses for graduates looking to break into a career in Medical Sales. Intensive, small group courses take place every month and cover all aspects of the Medical Sales Representative role. The cost is only £100 and is refunded if you are placed as a result of the course. For further details see the information below. Course Description Landen Foundation Training Course alumni have been placed at companies like Medeva, Novo Nordisk, AstraZeneca, Yamanouchi and Schering-Plough. The course provides practical training for practical people and pro…

Here at PharmiWeb we are so committed to being the number one portal site for the Life Sciences industry that we often sleep here in the office and our intensive research into getting a good night’s s
For Bill Shakespeare it was a chance to dream but for too many of us a good night’s sleep is either a singular rarity or time to be eroded upon if something more important comes up. Here at PharmiWeb we are so committed to being the number one portal site for the Life Sciences industry that we often sleep here in the office and our intensive research into getting a good night’s sleep has produced some excellent tips worth sharing… Get a relaxing regular routine to prepare your body and more importantly your mind for sleep. Routines enable your mind to go into auto-pilot, stop concentrating so…

Energy Drinks have been backed up by some heavy duty marketing spend in recent years, offering benefits ranging from 'Alertness fast' to 'wings' but consumers, in the UK at least, have expressed conce
Sickly sweet, garishly coloured and guaranteed to keep you awake, not a pre-teen with a STEPS record but the arsenal of energy drinks currently weighing down shelves at a petrol station near you. With Coca Cola launching a new product, 'Play' on the South African market, the energy drinks market is in the PharmiWeb spotlight. Widely touted as the next high-growth sector of the giant soft drinks industry, a second attempt by the market leader for a slice of the cake (Coke previously tried a product called 'Lift' in Australia and New Zealand) is a significant move. Energy Drinks have been backed…

Finding the right people to send your application to can be a time consuming task, here, with the help of the ABPi we list the contact details for all the companies who are interested in hearing from
Personnel Manager Abbott Laboratories Abbott House Norden Road Maidenhead Berkshire SL6 4XE Tel: 01628 773355 Fax: 01628 644115 Online: www.abbott.com Personnel Manager Abbott Laboratories Queenborough Isle of Sheppey Kent ME11 5EL Tel: 01795 580099 Fax: 01795 593335 Online: www.abbott.com Recruitment Officer Amgen Limited 240 Cambridge Science Park Milton Road Cambridge CB4 4WD Tel: 01223 420305 Fax: 01223 426078 E-mail: uk-human-resources@uk.amgen.com Online: www.amgen.com Graduate Recruitment Officer General Recruitment AstraZeneca R&D at Charnwood Bakewell Road Loughborough Leiceste…

Steve Waller of PanMEDICA talks to us about the myth of scientific qualifications and the importance of demonstrating your committment to the Medical Sales Representatives role.
WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND IN THE INDUSTRY:- I have been working within the Pharmaceutical / Healthcare recruitment industry for about 5 years. WHAT CAN YOUR COMPANY DO FOR CANDIDATES THAT OTHERS CAN'T? PanMedica prides itself on really understanding our candidates, their needs and also the companies that we work with, we provide a personalised service and tailor make it to suit both candidates and clients alike. We have state of the art computer systems and this enables us to ensure a speedy recruitment process from start to finish. WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR FIRST IN A CANDIDATE FOR A MEDICAL SALES REP POSITION? Commi…

We have all seen them - they are in every bookshop next to the health and cooking sections. I am referring to the now vast number of books that claim to tell us how to improve our sex lives. The title
We have all seen them - they are in every bookshop next to the health and cooking sections. I am referring to the now vast number of books that claim to tell us how to improve our sex lives. The titles on display contain almost as many permutations of the words ‘sex’, ‘love’, ‘joy’ and ‘pleasure’ as sexual positions described between their covers. They range from Alex Comfort’s classic The Joy of Sex (first published in 1972 and still very much in print) to complete D.I.Y. packs containing books, videos and even massage oils. If the blurb on their jackets is to be believed, these books will…

Landen Associates provide tailored 3 day training courses for graduates looking to break into a career in Medical Sales. Intensive, small group courses take place every month and cover all aspects of
Landen Associates provide tailored 3 day training courses for graduates looking to break into a career in Medical Sales. Intensive, small group courses take place every month and cover all aspects of the Medical Sales Representative role. The cost is only £100 and is refunded if you are placed as a result of the course. For further details see the information below. Course Description Landen Foundation Training Course alumni have been placed at companies like Medeva, Novo Nordisk, AstraZeneca, Yamanouchi and Schering-Plough. The course provides practical training for practical people and p…

Sue Caro understands the risks of working long hours. She had worked in television news for 10 years and was a programme director when, in 1989, her employers changed her terms and conditions of emplo
Individual Problems Sue Caro understands the risks of working long hours. She had worked in television news for 10 years and was a programme director when, in 1989, her employers changed her terms and conditions of employment, making overtime virtually compulsory. 'This meant I could be called, at short notice, to work long, unsociable shifts - up to 14 hours - and you had to have a very good reason to refuse. I had no control over my life.' 'The hours I was working and my family commitments meant I never had enough time to wind down properly. I constantly felt extremely tired, lacking in en…

Ask most people, including doctors, what constitutes good health and they will probably talk about living without physical illnesses like heart disease or cancer. If quizzed about what it takes to sta
Ask most people, including doctors, what constitutes good health and they will probably talk about living without physical illnesses like heart disease or cancer. If quizzed about what it takes to stay healthy, many will no doubt suggest eating well, not smoking and keeping physically fit. But how many are likely to mention the importance of emotional health as an essential component of physical health? Some might point to the need to avoid stress, but few are likely to suggest that possessing a high level of self-esteem, feeling optimistic or being able to express emotions are of critical i…

Since the explosion of debate around the internet and e-commerce began questions have been asked about the future role of the pharmaceutical sales representatives. Here we take a broader look at the r
Whether you're an experienced rep or just thinking of what type of car you might get with the job, you can't have helped but notice that the language of those who work in healthcare, pharmaceuticals and medicine is one of war. Even where the action is not necessarily bloody disease is talked of as an enemy that must be identified, targeted and then destroyed. On the frontline between those who develop and those who deliver the arsenal of weapons in this war, are pharmaceutical reps. If disease is our enemy, drugs are our weapons, what does that make the rep? Supplies officers, or like NATO o…

In this feature, previously published in Pharmafield, Nicky Hickman looks at what developments in new technology will mean for the rep. With internet technology becoming smaller and more portable and
In parts of Asia-Pacific, mobile 'phones are known locally as 'handy's' and that's really the best way of thinking of the new generation of mobile 'phones, pocket-sized computers and other mobile devices. What's happened to the technology? Two strands of information and communications technology are merging in our pockets. The first is computer technology. If you've read the novel 'Stark' by Ben Elton, you'll remember the Japanese tycoon who turned a profit by making his consumer electronics products so small, everyone kept losing them and hence having to replace them. Until now there's bee…

Kath Ryan of Ventiv Health talks to PharmiWeb about the gradual change in the nature of the Medical Sales Rep role and the importance of demonstrating that you are adding value to customers.
What's your background in the industry? I have worked in Pharmaceutical Sales Recruitment for over 6 years. What can your company do for candidates that others can't? We always view the recruitment process as a 2-way thing. It is not just about what you can tell us but what we can tell you and how we can help you. What do you look for first in a candidate for a Medical Sales Rep position? Motivation Is a qualification in a Life Sciences subject a pre-requisite? No, just as long as you have the ability and motivation to learn the product and disease area knowledge. We are more interested in you hav…

You’re looking forward to flopping on the beach and soaking up the sun - the last thing you want to hear is that you’re heading for a potential danger-zone. But because you could be exposed to dangero
You’re looking forward to flopping on the beach and soaking up the sun - the last thing you want to hear is that you’re heading for a potential danger-zone. But because you could be exposed to dangerous UV radiation, contaminated water and even venomous jelly-fish, here’s all you need to know to stay healthy The Sun At least 40,000 new cases of skin cancer are reported each year in Britain and the most serious form, malignant melanoma, claims the lives of over 1500 people. This makes sunscreen a must for any beach bum. ‘We always recommend that people apply Factor 15+ sunscreen as a matter of…