Kerry Donald Bell

1. Focus on your Education: A strong educational foundation can go a long way in shaping your career. At the basic level, you need to at least have a background in life science. For your Bachelor’s education, it would be advisable to have a combination of a science major, and a second major like marketing or communications.

There are two benefits to this – the science major will give you the freedom to work in different fields within the pharmaceutical industry. The marketing or communications major will put you in a position to understand the business side of the industry.

If pharmacy is your main goal, then you should look at a course that will help you get registered as a licensed pharmacist. Examples of these can be Bachelor of Pharmacy, Diploma Pharmacy Programs, or MSc in Pharmaceutical Technology. Also, a strong foundation can be of great help if you ever decide to start your own business.

2. Get Work Experience: A pharmaceutical consultant’s job broadly deals with working with clients and creating in-house strategies that can streamline work processes. Understanding the workings of various departments within a pharmacy or a pharmaceutical company is imperative. Depending on the department in which you are offered a job (R&D, sales and marketing, communications, etc.), take the time to create a strong foundation of experience and knowledge. Try to get first-hand experience working in all the different segments of a pharmaceutical company. For example, if you are into R&D, see if you can also get training in marketing and communications. Most companies offer training programs or seminars that can help you. Ensure that you have a minimum of 3 to 4 years of work experience before you make any plans to study further, or move to a different organization.

3. Work to Attain a Management Position: This point is about gaining knowledge and mastering the art of handling store branches, employees, products, marketing strategies, campaigns, etc. Combined with strong technical knowledge, this will also put you in a good position to attract, create, and maintain good relations with clients.

4. Keep Up with Latest Trends and Happenings: Knowledge and experience will certainly help you in your career as a consultant. However, it is extremely important that you keep your eyes and ears open about the latest trends and changes taking place in the industry. This will put you in a stronger position when pitching products and solutions to clients, and convincing them to make changes in their companies.

5. Create a Strong Network: The help of a friend or colleague can go a long way. Ensure you have a good network of contacts within your company and the industry. Take the time to converse with your seniors, peers, as well as professionals and representatives of other organizations. Attend conferences and trade shows; share your knowledge as well as get more information. A strong network will allow you to have the right people on your side as you move ahead in your career.

6. Be Ready for the Long Haul: Even if you have performed all the points mentioned above, your career as a pharmaceutical consultant will require time to take off. Do not get frustrated if things do not work out at first. Keep working and try to find ways to get new projects. Be willing to multi-task, work on multiple projects at a time. This will help you create a strong reputation in the industry, and even help you find new clients.

Passion, dedication, and smart future planning can go long way to establishing your career. A combination of all these points can lead to a strong and stable career as a successful pharmaceutical consultant.

The health care industry is progressing like never before. There are many innovative solutions that are being developed both in terms of drug research, time-saving apps, and new medical products. As you can imagine, the price of good healthcare in the near future is going to be anything but inexpensive.

There has been a continual rise in prices of various medicines, especially generic drugs that are bought by patients on a regular basis. Glass Box Analytics, a consultancy, and analytics company, studied and followed the progress of 4,421 generic drug groups from Nov 2013 to Nov 2014. The company found that out of this large group, 222 drug groups experienced more than a 100 percent increase in price.

One well-known example is the price of the drug tetracycline, which is mainly used for treating different kinds of bacterial infections. In 2013, the price for this drug was $0.0345 per tablet. However, in the following year, the price increased to $2.3632 per tablet.

Generally, the public is outraged when a sudden price rise take place. Often drug companies are accused of hiking prices just to bring in a larger profit, and not thinking of the public’s requirements. While I agree that some companies have indeed tried unscrupulous methods, one bad egg does not mean that the whole basket is rotten.



Reasons behind the Hike in Drug Prices

There are many legitimate reasons behind the continual rise in drug prices. The most important reasons are:

• Merging of Generic Drug Companies: The logic behind this reason is simple. When you have multiple companies providing the same type of drug to cure a certain ailment, there is a huge amount of competition. Higher the competition, lower the price. With generic drug companies consolidating to increase their research and manufacturing capabilities, the competition is far less. Hence, the rise in prices.


• Shortage of Raw Materials: Every drug contains one primary element or compound, which is responsible for the drug’s performance. These days, finding a producer who can provide quality raw materials to create generic drugs is difficult. To satiate the demand, manufacturers end up importing raw materials from other countries, which is by no means inexpensive. This leads to a rise in the price of a drug.


• Problems in Manufacturing Process: If there is a shortage of raw materials, it leads to delays in the production schedule. When a new drug is being created, changes in the drug formulation process can also delay production. Other known factors include obsolete equipment, and limited production capabilities. All these factors will lead to the unavailability of a drug, which will lead to a rise in its price.


• Supply and Demand Problems: This point is a simple case of pharmaceutical economics. The demand for a particular drug can increase due to a growing epidemic, an extremely positive response to a drug, changes in therapeutic guidelines related to a medication, etc. Such issues can lead to a rise in the price of that product.


• Regulatory Issues: This is one area that is not well-known amongst patients. In North America 2014, Congress passed the Medicaid Generic Drug Price Fairness Act. The aim of the act was to ensure that drug manufacturers do not extend the price of a drug higher than the Consumer Price Index (CPI) during a financial quarter. If a manufacturer does this, then he is expected to pay a high penalty sum.

What has been argued by many experts is that, with the immense number of generic drugs in the market, there are multiple prices to consider. Also, generic drug manufacturers are exempt from the paying any inflation penalties. Due to this, the Act may not be able to help bring down the prices of generic drugs.

Is There a Solution?

While there is no complete solution to this problem as of now, efforts are being made to ensure that drug companies provide medicines at reasonable prices. Companies are taking the effort to collate data about drug price information. They are also analyzing pricing changes, so that they can make accurate price changes. Manufacturers cannot risk hiking the prices as they will have to pay a penalty to the Government. With such efforts underway, we can hope that the drug price problem will reach a consensus in the near future.

Last week, I had written a post on the new trends that can be expected in the pharmaceutical industry in 2015. There is no doubt that while the healthcare system may become more efficient, it will also become more expensive.

With new medication being developed and released every year, it is extremely important that doctors and patients understand the right medication and dosage required to enable complete recovery from an ailment or condition.

When one thinks of pharmaceuticals, one usually imagines a drug company that sells various pharmaceuticals. However, this is just one part of the field. The field of pharmacy is not just the design and production of drugs, it also includes how the drugs should be provided in terms of quantity, quality, and price. This aspect of pharmacy is known as pharmacotherapy.

What is Pharmacotherapy?
To put it very simply, therapy that is provided using pharmaceutical drugs is known as pharmacotherapy. It comprises the safe, applicable, and cost-effective use of pharmaceutical drugs. It also involves studying the therapeutic effects of drugs in patients.

The primary healthcare professionals who are responsible for providing this medical service are pharmacotherapy specialists. They are directly responsible for the patient’s care, and are required to have extensive knowledge of pharmacotherapy, and current and new medications.

A pharmacotherapy specialist can help a patient in many ways:

• They can provide medicines to the patient.
• They share knowledge about medical conditions and medications with patients.
• They also have knowledge in terms of prescribing and administering medication.

Why is Pharmacotherapy Important?
Despite the fact that some over-the-counter medications are regularly taken by most patients, not all drugs react in the same way for every patient. There is always a chance of variability in the way the body responds to the drug. There are different factors that can cause the drug response to be varied:

• Age
• Disease
• Body size/composition
• Environmental factors
• Interaction of two drugs competing for the same internal body process

The pharmacotherapy specialist should be in a position to ascertain which drugs will be appropriate for the patient according to the above-mentioned factors, and ensure that no adverse drug interactions take place.

Benefits of Pharmacotherapy
The focus of pharmacotherapy is not the drug or even the disease. The main focus is the patient and his health. The proper use of pharmacotherapy can result in many benefits for the patient:

• Pharmacotherapy can be Used for Many Conditions: Pharmacotherapy is not limited to certain diseases or conditions. It can be used to treat physical, physiological, and psychological conditions.


• It Balances out the Condition: The main advantage of appropriate pharmacotherapy is that it helps stabilize the patient’s condition. This allows the patient to attain some mental freedom to perform his daily tasks with ease. For example, if a patient suffers from arthritis, and undergoes pharmacotherapy, the right dose of medications can give some relief to work, travel, etc.


• It can Support Extreme Cases: Proper dosage of medication can be of immense help to patients who may be in critical stages of a disease, or who require immediate attention and assistance. For example, appropriate pharmacotherapy can support the rehabilitation of patients who suffer from drug dependencies. It can also be used alongside behavioral therapy and other rehabilitation programs.


• It can Support Drug-free Living: Once a patient has reached a stabilized state, the pharmacotherapy specialist can gradually reduce the dosage to a point where the patient can live drug-free. This will aid in faster recovery and reduce dependency on medicines.

Applications of Pharmacotherapy
As mentioned earlier, pharmacotherapy can be used to help patients deal with all types of conditions. It can be used to help patients cope with a variety of physical and mental conditions such as:

• Osteoporosis
• Early stages of Cancer
• Substance Abuse Disorders
• Attention Deficiency Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

It can also be used to support various fields of medicine, including pediatrics and geriatrics.

Pharmacotherapy can be used as an effective tool in patient recovery and rehabilitation. Correct diagnoses, and the right combination and dosage of medication can even lead to complete disease remission. This helps in improving the quality of a patient’s life and those around him.

Having travelled to many countries and continents around the world, I think it is safe for me to say, I am a globe trekker. And so far, the journey has been amazing, to say the least.

No amount of words can do justice to the beautiful places I have been to, the wonderful people I have met, and the incredible experiences I have had. I have enjoyed, learnt, and grown so much through these travels that I decided to take my family along for many of them. Suffice to say, they feel the same way.

So why am I talking about travelling? The reason is simple – I would love for you to experience what I have experienced! Believe me friends, I can write a book about my adventures and it won’t do you any good. You have to see and experience it to believe it.

While I have met many people who share my love for travelling, I have also met people who are not of the same mindset. When I have spoken about this to people, many have simply shrugged their shoulders and ask, “So what’s the point?” This statement is the main reason behind my post today. So here are…

Reasons Why You Should Travel the World


The points below are just a few things that I have realized through my various travels:

• The Simplest Reason: It’s Fun: You can never understand the joy that comes from travelling until you actually do it. Sure, you may have to plan things in advance, ensure that you have the necessary supplies, cash, documents, etc. But it’s all part of the process, and it adds to the enjoyment. Knowing that you are fully prepared can allow you to stand back and take on anything whatever’s coming your way. And let me ask you frankly, isn’t not knowing part of the fun?


• Food, Food, Food: Yes, this word is a major reason for me to pack my bag. And I’m not joking. You can actually learn so much about a country and its culture by simply tasting the local delicacies. I particularly enjoyed India’s local dishes. They have certainly opened my eyes to the country, its people, their food culture (it’s huge), and their core beliefs.


• You Get Reintroduced to Yourself: Too many times, especially when we have accomplished all our goals, we start thinking, “This is it. I don’t need to do or know anything else.” But when you travel, you realize that there is so much you can, and need to learn about yourself. Whether you are lazing by a pool or ocean, trekking through a jungle, or taking in all the sights and sounds of a city, every new experience can help you learn a little more about yourself.


• It makes you Open Minded: Let me put this very simply – travelling can help you expand your horizons and beliefs. I have met some amazing people through my travels, and have had the opportunity to go out of my comfort zone and help a stranger. When you see the way these so called ‘strangers’ treat you and others, you realize there is so much more to life than you know.


• It’s a New Challenge: Sometimes I wish I was a polyglot (that’s the ability to speak multiple languages). Certainly my travels would have been a lot easier. It can be a challenge when you’re in a foreign country, and you can’t find the way to the hotel or some place because the locals can’t speak your language. While it may seem like a nightmare at the time, when you’re back home, it can be a hilarious story to tell your friends. Also, it becomes a wonderful memory.

I have tried to condense my thoughts for this post. If you enjoyed this one, maybe I can write a ‘part deux’ for you. For now, I would like to suggest, if you have an opportunity to take a trip to new city or land, close your eyes and accept. I can promise you, you will not regret it.

The New Year is already into its second month. It is around this time that many companies around the globe turn their attention to the various trends that are currently taking place in different industries. They also create reports and provide suggestions on what could be seen in the near future.

These reports are important as they provide extensive research and important facts, which can be used by organizations around the world to improve their business strategies, product innovations, service offerings, and sales and marketing strategies.

Keeping this in mind, I decided to look at some of the trends that are taking place in healthcare and pharmaceutical industries in 2015.

Global Trends that Can Impact the Pharmaceutical Industry in 2015
Here are some of the important trends that are taking place in North America, Europe, and developing countries:

• Emerging Markets for More Pharma Sales: Emerging markets like Russia, China, and India, are important factors to consider in 2015. There are two primary reasons for the same. These countries are looking for pharmaceutical products to address specific medical needs. Also, most new markets have an increased amount of spending power.
  
  What This Means for Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals: Emerging markets present a great opportunity to provide new pharma products to customers across the globe. Also, pharmaceutical companies can attempt to create a stronger global footing in terms of product sales. New markets will also encourage companies to increase R&D on healthcare products, which can treat specific diseases in various countries.



• Healthcare on your Smartphone: With the release of Apple’s Health app in the summer of 2014, the healthcare industry is seeing a revolutionary change. Earlier, medical apps were only used by physicians. Now, patients will be in a position to use apps like Apple’s to determine a diagnosis, and speak to their physicians for advice on treatment.
  
  What This Means for Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals: On one hand, medical apps can help smoothen out the diagnoses and treatment processes. Physicians can use them to access databases and prescribe the ideal medicines. It can also help a physician to collect data when a patient will go to visit him. On the other hand, the healthcare pharmaceutical industries will have to be prepared to provide more transparent health systems to the public.



• High Medical Costs will lead to Innovative Solutions: According to a health study performed by analytics company IMS Health, the global expenditure for healthcare in 2014 had risen $26 billion in 2012 to $70 billion in 2014. With continually rising medical costs, the public will have to look at more affordable solutions. Like the health apps, other medical devices and innovative solutions are being created by healthcare technology organizations to bring down medical costs. A few examples of these are:
  
  
  • Home chemotherapy
  
  
  • Wireless checking of pacemakers
  
  
  • Conducting ECGs with medical apps on your phone
  
  
  • Sending digital photos of physical ailments to physicians for consultations
  
  
  What This Means for Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals: Innovative solutions like the ones mentioned above can lead to doctors and companies providing better solutions in terms of companion devices for diagnosing diseases, improved suggestions for pharma medicines, self-monitoring of diseases by patients, and personalized medical care.



• Rise in Medical Costs will Require Evidence: Pharmaceutical companies as well as healthcare establishments will have to provide data to substantiate the prices of medicines as well as procedures.
  
  What This Means for Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals: These organizations will need to be in a position to customize the information for specific groups such as patients and stakeholders.



• Innovation will be Driven by Transparency of Information: Following the signing of the AllTrials Petition in North America to publish all findings of clinical trials, the European Medical Association is following suit. This year, the association will be publishing all clinical trial data, which supports the authorization of new drugs in Europe.
  
  What This Means for Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals: This will ensure that there are no trial duplications. It can also encourage pharmaceutical companies to come up with more innovative solutions and medications. It can also lead to collaborations between pharma and medical device manufacturing organizations.

These are just some of the trends that are being predicted by experts for the rest of the year. Looking at the findings, there is no doubt that there will be tremendous change taking place in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries in the near future.