Pharmaceutical sales representatives or Medical sales respresentatives[1] are salespeople employed by pharmaceutical companies to persuade doctors to prescribe their drugs to patients. Drug companies in the United States spend ~$5 billion annually sending representatives to doctors,[2] to provide product information, answer questions on product use, and deliver product samples. These interactions are governed according to limits established by the Code on Interactions with Health Care Professionals, created by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). This code came into practice in 2002 and has since been updated to help define ethical interactions between health care professionals and the pharmaceutical companies [3]
Companies maintain this provides an educational service by keeping doctors updated on the latest changes in medical science. Critics point to a systematic use of gifts and personal information to befriend doctors to influence their drug prescriptions.[2] In the United Kingdom representatives are governed by a strict code of conduct from the Association of British Pharmaceutical Industries (ABPI). No gifts are allowed. Companies are fined and held in breach if they use the tactics described in this description.
As a medical sales representative (widely referred to as reps), you'll sell your company's products, which include medicines, prescription drugs and medical equipment, to a variety of customers including GPs, hospital doctors, pharmacists and nurses. You'll work strategically to increase the awareness and use of your company's pharmaceutical and medical products.