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Industrial pharmacists: an influential force?
Are industrial pharmacists an influential force? Clearly the Industrial
Pharmacists Group Committee thinks so and that is why nine people commit
their time to promote pharmacy in the pharmaceutical industry and support
those pharmacists employed by it. Pharmacists are uniquely qualified to
play a major role in industry and are found in almost all functional areas.
So who are the industrial pharmacists whom the IPG represents? As a membership
group of the Society, the IPG is open to any pharmacist who is engaged
in industrial practice or who acts as a consultant to industry or whose
work involves industrial, regulatory or technical matters.
About 2,000 pharmacists work in industry. They are involved in many activities
such as: research and development, manufacturing, quality control (especially
as qualified persons), sales and marketing, general management, regulatory
affairs, medical information and clinical trials. The breadth of training
that pharmacists receive allows them to have a wide-ranging influence
(as shown by the broad variety of roles) on the evolution of the industry
of the future.
So what does the IPG Committee do? The committee consists of two members
of the Society’s Council and seven elected group members. Two additional
members can be co-opted to provide expertise in areas not covered by the
other members. The current committee includes pharmacists from research
and development, quality control, regulatory affairs, biopharmaceuticals
and marketing. This group meets three to four times a year to co-ordinate
and organise activities and is in regular communication at all times.
The main purposes of the IPG Committee are:
To promote better integration and communication between the pharmacist
in industry and other branches of the profession
The IPG committee works closely with the Society’s practice division.
This is the forum by which the IPG can represent its views to the Society
on general issues. The group reviews both industrial matters and also
matters relating to other branches of the profession.
The committee also works with the Society to publish the IPG’s quarterly
journal, The Industrial Pharmacist, which is free to IPG members (non-members
can obtain it for an annual subscription). The journal covers current
areas of interest and is widely read within the industrial sector, as
well as being a valuable tool to communicate with other branches of the
profession.
One key area of collaboration with the Society and with other professional
bodies (such as the Institute of Biology and the Royal Society of Chemistry)
is on the administration of the UK Qualified Persons scheme.
A European perspective is provided through the IPG’s membership
of the European Industrial Pharmacists Group, for which it currently holds
the presidency.
To advise the Society’s Council on issues facing pharmacy in
industry and present the industrial perspective on changes in the health
care system
The IPG is proactive in its approach by anticipating change and representing
its views to the Society’s Council. Numerous policy documents for
discussion are given to the group for comment. The committee provides
position statements for Council to consider, eg, on the proposed changes
to the Society’s structure.
One important area of current interest is the creation of a continuing
professional development system. Although the IPG welcomes the initiative,
it is concerned that it must cater for all branches of the profession.
Industrial pharmacists are concerned about their status on the register
and their right to practise or move, with appropriate training, between
branches of the profession. The IPG is concerned that, unless these issues
are effectively dealt with, industrial pharmacists may choose to leave
the register, something that the profession and the Society can ill afford
to allow to happen.
To promote high standards of pharmaceutical education and professional
training which are relevant to the needs of the pharmacist in industry
The IPG has two main areas of focus. The first is the support of the
undergraduate curriculum. The IPG strongly believes in maintaining the
core curriculum for the science base in pharmacy. The group has been involved
in reviewing and influencing the content of the undergraduate curriculum
and expects to see a commitment to providing education that will support
pharmacists entering industry.
The second area of focus is to provide on-going education by arranging
conferences on topical issues. The group organises several meetings each
year which are attended by pharmacists as well as associated professional
groups. They are excellent networking forums as well as providing continuing
education. The next group meeting is a joint meeting with the College
of Mental Health Pharmacists on “Moving forward in mental health”
to be held at the Society’s headquarters on 26 November.
To expand the role, and increase the awareness of the value of pharmacy
and pharmacists within industry
The IPG believes that industrial pharmacists are in a great position
to act as ambassadors for pharmacy within the industry. The positions
they have achieved are testament to the regard that the industry has for
pharmacists. Despite this, the IPG is concerned about the falling number
of pharmacists entering this sector of the profession, and attracting
pharmacists is a priority. The reduction in industrial preregistration
places in recent years is of particular concern. The IPG is working on
how to encourage companies to value the preregistration places year as
a recruitment tool. Additionally a key focus area is how to recruit pharmacists
post-registration.
The IPG believes that a strong relationship between pharmacy schools
and practising industrial pharmacists will be key in the future. In the
past students had many lectures by pharmacists; today they are being carried
out by the broader scientific community. Students’ exposure to pharmacists
has decreased and the Society and industrial pharmacists share a responsibility
to ensure that undergraduates have exposure to all aspects of the profession
in order to make their career choices.
The employment opportunities available to pharmacists are varied, and
often industry misses out in the years after graduation because salaries
do not compete with other sectors. However, the career and personal development
opportunities are huge and overall reward packages become competitive
quickly. In fact, the IPG plays a critical role in this by carrying out
periodic salary and benefit surveys of industrial pharmacists and companies
use this to ensure benefits remain competitive.
To promote these opportunities to undergraduates the IPG stays in touch
with all schools of pharmacy, through key contacts, career brochures (available
through the Society) and a programme of annual visits by pharmacists working
in industry.
Pharmacists can and do make a valuable contribution to the pharmaceutical
industry. Many eminent pharmacists in the past created and evolved the
industry of today. But without a greater voice for industrial pharmacists,
and the support of the Society’s Council, the future is less certain.
Industry and the Society will be a lot poorer if this influence is lost.
The IPG intends that it will not be. — By Mel Smith, IPG chairman,
and Dr John Kerridge, IPG committee member.
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