It costs millions to manufacture a drug and to sell them in this competitive business world. The pharmaceutical industries need people who can sell their products to the doctors, pharmacists and related outlets. These companies recruit the sales representatives for the purpose of introducing their new products to the doctors, pharmacists or other healthcare professionals who regularly prescribe medicines.

Medical representatives specialize in one area and make the health professionals to prescribe the particular product of their company. Their job also includes promoting the existing medicine to the related persons. They discuss the clinical usage, dosages, etc. with the pharmacists and doctors.

Medical representatives are the people who perform key communication between the medical professionals and the drugs companies. Their responsibilities include the promotion of the companies’ products to the GPs and doctors in hospitals. For this purpose they have to do a face to face communication or meetings with those medical professionals.

Qualifying Exam

Those who wish to become a medical representative should acquire a bachelor’s degree in related field of four years duration. The specialization in pharmacy, business or healthcare is mostly preferred. Those qualified in other field can also become a medical sales representative. However they will have to undergo training session about the diseases and related drugs in which they want to specialize. Some medical companies prefer candidates with qualification in business or biosciences, while some others prefer candidates with sales backgrounds.

Who is eligible to apply?

Candidates who have pursued the higher secondary education with biology and mathematics from any reputed institutions can join for the bachelor’s degree in related field. Many universities offer the related programmes like biosciences, pharmacy, healthcare and business of four years duration. The admission to the institutions will be based on entrance tests organized. The minimum percentage required in the 12th will vary depending on the universities.

Key points in the process

• Study 12th with biology and mathematics from any recognized institutions and secure good scores in the examination.
• Find the universities or colleges which offer the related subjects like biosciences, pharmacy or healthcare and pursue the bachelors’ degree from there.
• Acquire experience in sales industry to get an exposure. This will help them to get more chances while looking for the medical representative jobs.
• Improve skills by attending any seminars or classes in the specific medicine subjects. Some associations offer specific training according to the candidates’ level of experience.
• Gain the certifications that expose their potential and skills in the same field.

• Search for jobs in companies that recruit medical representative and apply for it.

Skills required for a Medical Representative

The medical representatives should have some good skills to perform well in this field. First of all they must have a responsible mind and should have good personality. Since they have to contact many people, they must be bold enough to work independently and should have good communication skills both in English as well as in regional languages. Other necessary qualities are they should have good planning & organizational skills.