1. The document discusses several issues facing Medical Affairs departments in pharmaceutical companies based on a survey. 2. 48% of those surveyed agree there is a lack of medically qualified people entering the industry due to various factors. 3. 64% note an increase in non-medically qualified people in Medical Affairs roles, with mixed views on if this is positive or a cost-cutting measure.

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Whilst there are a number of senior
medics within industry there is a
vast lack of medics in the middle
management area; it is becoming
increasingly hard to recruit at this
level. This has led to the existence
of a ‘hollow middle’ which is now
evident within industry.
Medical Director, Europe
There is much uncertainty as to how
the imminent revalidation process
will influence industry in the UK;
it is highly likely that a number
of medics will leave medicine as
a result. The introduction of the
process will also make it harder to
bring medics into the UK.
Medical Director UK
Interims directly contribute
towards the time bomb, they
provide a short-term fix and cost
cut to a long term problem. They
also prevent permanent talent and
knowledge to develop within the
organisation.
UK Medical Director
®
There is a general lack of understanding within the industry of the size of the decision to step out of clinical
medicine.... I would think a huge issue is that many medics get bored and without the right support end up leaving
in 6 months and going back to clinical medicine.
UK Medical Director
Medical training is a huge advantage in the industry but only when used appropriately and a medical background
doesn’t give them any divine right to career progression over non-medics, they have to earn it.
Marketing Director, UK Pharmaceutical Company
Medical Affairs –
a discipline in crisis?
PiR Resourcing has undertaken a comprehensive review of Medical Affairs in European
pharmaceutical companies. Highlights of our survey follow – but behind this overview are some
interesting data and qualitative observations. Contact us for the full run down on the direction that
Medical Affairs is headed.
Sally Hope, Managing Director, PiR Resourcing
48%of those interviewed either agree or strongly agree
that there is a lack of medically qualified people entering the
pharmaceutical industry.
Contributing factors:
Commercial pressures Contraction of the pharmaceutical industry
Reputational challengesRates of pay Perception that the NHS may be a better option
64%agreed/strongly agreed that there has been an increase in non-medically qualified people
occupying Medical Affairs roles – and mixed views as to whether this was a benefit? Some felt that this
improved diversity whilst others saw this as a cost cutting exercise.
80%said that their company did not have a
graduate programme for medics coming into
Medical Affairs, largely because of the cost.
80%
54%who said they were responsible for
recruiting staff said that their organisation faced
issues and challenges with retaining staff.
EXIT
67% strongly agreed/agreed that there has been an increase in the
number of companies running lean Medical Affairs teams. Medical Affairs
is increasingly experiencing cost cutting and greater alignment with
Marketing and Sales.
There is a fairly even split between the sexes across our sample, and little variance
between those departments with Global, EU or single country responsibility.
58% working in departments with Global or
UK responsibility were more inclined to highlight
commercial acumen than those responsible for EU
or other single country responsibility.
70%said that commercial pressures had
increased over the last decade.
Global departments are more likely to cite
non-medics filling Medical Affairs roles as an
issue. Shortage of Medical Affairs recruits and
suitable talent affects both Global, EU and local
departments.
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1. Potential lack of medically qualified
people ‘time bomb’
48%
2. Increased use of non-medically qualified staff
4. Staff retention
increasingly difficult
3. Graduate recruitment
programmes rare
5. Medical Affairs departments
increasingly lean
6. Medical Affairs is evenly balanced across gender
67%
7. Commercial acumen
in short supply
8. Global variation in
the issues ahead
NHSNHS