The pharmaceutical industry includes activities related to the research, manufacture and marketing of drugs, which are essential for the treatment and prevention of diseases. Pharmaceutical laboratories and biotech companies are the main players in this dynamic industry.
How to train field teams in this sector? New regulations, security obligations, e-health, innovations... The challenges are numerous and varied.
Jobs in the health sector
Manufacturing or packaging technician, control laboratory manager, maintenance manager... Today, health industries recruit from a wide range of jobs.
16,000: this is the number of recruitments made by the pharmaceutical industry in 2022. Pharmaceutical laboratories increased their fixed-term and permanent staff by 2.7%, compared to the previous year, significantly more than the rest of the French industry (1.3%). The pharmaceutical sector recruits from a panel of around 150 qualified and engaging jobs, a third of which are in the production of medicines.
So many people to train on a daily basis!
The importance of training in the pharmaceutical industry
The smooth integration of new collaborators and the continuous updating of the skills of current employees are fundamental to ensuring compliance and operational efficiency. The strict regulations imposed by health authorities require a thorough understanding of standards and procedures. An error or a breach can have serious consequences, both in terms of health and law. La vocational training of these teams is therefore crucial to ensure that employees are up to date with regulations but also with innovations.
Focus on a field job: The pharmaceutical representative is a health actor whose mission is to present, promote and sell products to numerous actors in the health world: pharmacy teams, health institutions, retirement homes, hospitals, clinics...
The complexity of the environment and the diversity of health products require the Pharmaceutical/Technical-Commercial Health Delegate to mobilize commercial but also scientific, technical and ethical skills.
To practice this profession with health professionals and in particular pharmacy pharmacists, it is necessary to master the “codes” specific to the world of health, mobilize scientific and regulatory knowledge specific to the promotion and sale of health products and develop a spirit of analysis and monitoring in order to be able to evolve in this rapidly changing sector and understand the challenges of e-health.
The challenges of training field teams
The pharmaceutical industry is governed by strict regulations to ensure the safety and effectiveness of drugs. Employees must be fully aware of good manufacturing practices (GMP), quality control procedures, and documentation requirements. The promotion and sale of health products require a solid scientific and regulatory knowledge base. Non-compliance can result in severe penalties, including the withdrawal of products from the market.
The risks associated with errors in the manufacture or distribution of drugs are indeed considerable. Mistakes can not only compromise patient safety but also damage a company's reputation. The training of field teams is therefore crucial to minimize these risks.
Technological innovation is constant in the pharmaceutical industry. It is therefore necessary to adapt to it constantly. New machines, production technologies, and quality management systems are introduced regularly. Field teams must be continuously trained to master these tools and remain at the forefront of technological advances.
The other challenges
- Technical language and terminology: The ability to use and understand medical and pharmaceutical jargon is crucial for clear and effective communication with healthcare professionals.
- Knowledge of health processes: Understanding care processes and patient journeys makes it possible to better understand the needs of health professionals and their patients.
- Pharmacology and biology: A thorough understanding of drugs, their composition, effects, and interactions is essential.
To meet these challenges, pharmaceutical companies must adopt effective training strategies adapted to the specific needs of their field teams.
How to adequately train pharmaceutical teams in the field?
Tip 1: rely on LMS (Learning Management System) platforms: LMS are powerful tools for centralizing and managing training courses. They make it possible to monitor learners' progress, personalize training courses and ensure access to content at any time and in any place.
Tip 2: choose short formats: Adopting micro-learning formats and short modules allows employees in the field to train in a flexible and continuous manner, by adapting to their time and mobility constraints.
Tip 3: encourage the sharing of tips and best practices: Encouraging the sharing of best practices and feedback between employees via learning communities within LMS reinforces collaborative learning and the integration of informal knowledge. For example, the video format makes it possible to transmit information or knowledge quickly and directly.
