1. Preparing pharma students for profession.
The opportunity:
The Indian pharma industry is on a good growth path and is likely to be in the top 10 global markets by
value by 2020. High burden of disease, good economic growth leading to higher disposable incomes,
improvements in healthcare infrastructure and improved healthcare financing are driving growth in the
domestic market.
Pharma companies are growing both organically and inorganically. Inorganic growth is happening through
licensing and partnerships as high valuation of assets is making acquisitions difficult. Further, companies
are organically improving their operations and productivity by increasing field force sizes, penetrating in
Tier II and III cities and by expanding their product portfolios.
Consistently growing at a CAGR of more than 15% over the last five years. The
healthy growth reflects the inherent strengths of the industry and improving
healthcare standards in the country.
Many of the conditions that will determine what happens in 2020 are already in place.
In India, socio-economic changes and urbanisation along with sedentary lifestyle are leading to rapid
epidemiological transition. As a result, the Indian population is becoming affluent, living longer and
increasingly suffering from lifestyle-related ailments such as obesity, heart disease, stroke, cancer and
diabetes. The number of Indian
people suffering from these diseases is set to double by 2020. This change
in patient demographics will fuel the demand for quality and affordable treatment in the domestic market.
MNCs have adopted India centric strategies such as differential pricing strategy to strengthen their
presence in India and address the issue of affordability.
Exports have also made significant contribution to Indian pharma industry’s growth story, with the critical
market of US generics driving the growth. 148 billion USD worth of
patent expiries are expected between 2012 and 2018. In addition, the healthcare reforms initiated by the
US government, aimed at reducing healthcare spending and covering a larger proportion of population
under public healthcare, are also likely to
provide impetus to growth in the generics market.
There is also an increasing trend among MNCs for partnering in the domestic market, where marketing
and distribution footprint of Indian companies and the product portfolio
of MNCs is being leveraged upon. Hence, going forward, India would leverage its strengths in the supply
of low-cost, quality medicines across the world and partner with foreign companies to drive growth and
play a larger role in global pharma market.
The Indian market provides significant growth opportunities for the pharma
professionals.
Pharmaceutical companies will continue to focus on improving operational efficiency
and productivity. However, to meet the requirements of changing business
environment, they will have to adopt new business models and think of innovative ideas to service their
evolving customers faster and better.

2. Pharma Education: - The need to transform.
The huge potential of this ever growing sector would require fresh graduates with entrepreneur mindset.
The people who are capable of creating jobs instead of those who are just seeking jobs as livelihood are
the need of the sector.
The onus will be on the students to invest their time and energy on skills that can deliver value to
the employers instantly in addition to having focus on studies alone. Organizations have no time
and patience to train individuals on the skills required to succeed. The degree serves the purpose of just
a passport to get the job but seeking a career will require different skill sets.
The fact that many youths from urban areas, have very unrealistic career aspirations and unwilling to
enroll for vocational training programs with job guarantees! Many drop out after joining entry level jobs -
even from white collared jobs in the organized sectors.
Many youths, even from poorest households, do no productive work, till they find their dream job ! Most
do not find these and eventually drift into anti social activities and become dysfunctional - socially as well
as economically. Another challenge related to old social customs, is about lack of Dignity of Labour for
certain types of jobs( Like Medical Reps or retail Pharmacist).
If they fail to succeed in attaining a desired job of their own, they become very disappointed
There is real need of imparting practical knowledge than age old information gathered just for the
Teacher's sake.
The university leadership should actively seek industry involvement in shaping the practicum elements of
degree programs.
•The faculty needs to have an appropriate mix of academic theory and practitioner skills.
•Students should experience full-time work placements and internships during their studies, facilitated by
their universities.
• The university should consider offering programs to part-time students through evenings/weekends or
on-line options, in order to expand its reach.
Work -readiness training:
The opportunity arises from students with completed secondary or post-secondary education, but a need
to increase their ability to perform their jobs. The approach to capturing this opportunity can focus either
on the skills valued by employers (i.e.
applied skills, soft skills, or language skills), or on equipping students with the entrepreneurial skills
required for self-employment.
•Close relationship with business to enable a good understanding of the private sector’s expectations for
curriculum, delivery, cost, and evolving business needs.
•Modular and flexible learning options that allow for an integration of the learning experience in their work.
• The assurance of employment if unemployed, or direct relevance to improved job prospects if employed.
Within the scope of work readiness programs preparation for entrepreneurship and self-employment also
plays a prominent role – without fostering entrepreneurship, the Pharma sector will not be able to create
the large number of jobs required. At present
there is a scarcity of people with even the most basic business skills. Entrepreneurship training programs
need to address such skills in a targeted, scalable manner. Such programs also need to reach out to rural
areas, and look into combining access to (micro) financing with entrepreneurship-related education.

3. Recommendation for fresh Pharma graduates:
The call to action for Gen –Y: Don’t see yourself as recepients, beneficiaries and / or victims of
“the system.” You are heart of all.
“Reach out to success instead of waiting for success to come to you”
Following problems were found to be the hindrances to the personality of the most youths:
1. Lack of Confidence.
2. Fear of unknown.
3. No self-worth.
4. English speaking Inability.
5. Lack of self belief.
6. Education only for degree.
7. Not job ready.
8. No indigenous virtue.
9. High Expectation.
10. Nationalization and no global connect.
11. Garb of modernity.
12. Risk taking Inability
Be informed about the array of education and job options available, and share this information with
friends, gain work experience early on. Whether it is internships or volunteer work, it will give you a strong
advantage as you start searching for employment. Engage your personal “stakeholders” (e.g.parents,
mentors, teachers) in discussions about your future. Stretch yourself for improving your soft skills and
corporate grooming skills while in college instead of waiting for the final year and campus placements.
Mastering one or two foreign language before you pass out will give you an edge over others scouting for
the similar jobs.
 Visualize your goal continually
 Continually feed your mind with clear, exciting, emotional picture
 Create a set of around 5 pocket cards with your goals written in the positive, personal present
tense to carry with you wherever you go
 Each night before you go to sleep imagine your life as it will be when you have achieved your
goals & feel it
Life isn’t about finding yourself, it’s about creating
yourself!
Contributed By:Rajjiv Saigal
Dy.Director – School of Pharmacy and technology management – NMIMS
University Mumbai
Rajjiv.Saigal@nmims.edu,