Pharmaceutical representative

Pharmaceutical representative is a professional title in Germany and Austria. In Germany, certified pharmaceutical representative means the completion of a further training course that qualifies the person to work as a pharmaceutical representative. Pharmaceutical consultants , on the other hand, must have an academic degree in natural sciences in accordance with Section 75 AMG and do not need to pass the pharmaceutical examination.

Germany

Task and qualification

The tasks of the pharmaceutical representative consist in this

promote the products of his pharmaceutical company,
To inform members of the health professions professionally, critically and completely about medicinal products in compliance with the applicable legal provisions,
To document messages from members of the health professions about adverse drug reactions and contraindications or other risks with drugs or about problems with taking the therapeutics, to record them in writing and to transmit them to the client. These documents belong to him. In case of doubt, he must provide evidence to the authorities. He is solely legally liable in the event of failure.

This includes the ability to describe biological , biochemical and molecular biological interrelationships as well as the clinical basis of clinical pictures, to link the course of diseases with pharmacotherapies, to explain the effects of drugs and recommendations for use, to hold consultations and to use marketing instruments.

In previous surveys (1980–2005) therapists (doctors, etc.) named more than 80% of the pharmaceutical consultants as the most important source of information for their therapeutic work and prescriptions. Today only “lucrative” practices are visited and informed (advertised) from the perspective of the pharmaceutical industry. The pharmaceutical advisor is dependent on the statements and documents of his employer. At the same time, he can and should inform himself about marketing statements and documents from other sources in accordance with the principle of truth.

Training

The training takes place in pharmaceutical companies or private pharmaceutical schools always in cooperation with the local Chamber of Commerce . The training is regulated nationwide in the PharmRefPrV.

In total, the training should include 1000 teaching hours, which are divided as follows:

Scientific and medical basics (250 lessons)
Pharmacology, pharmacotherapy and clinical pictures (420 teaching hours)
Pharmaceutical law, health management and economics (180 teaching hours)
Communication, pharmaceutical market, pharmaceutical marketing (150 teaching hours)

Without the course described above, the exam to become a certified pharmaceutical representative can also be taken by anyone who has completed training in a recognized medical, scientific, medical or commercial training occupation and has two years of professional experience. (For example PKA )

Austria

In Austria, according to Section 72 of the Medicines Act, the activity of a pharmaceutical representative “may only be carried out by persons who
1. have a university degree in human medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or pharmacy in Austria or in another contracting party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area or in Switzerland Have successfully completed the Swiss Confederation or have the qualifications of a competent person,
2. have proven by means of an examination that their professional training with regard to the activity of a pharmaceutical representative is equivalent to the professional training according to item 1. "

exam

In Austria, people who cannot prove that they have a corresponding degree must take the pharmaceutical representative examination at the Federal Ministry of Health in front of an examination committee. Only people who are entitled to attend an Austrian university as regular auditors or who have professional qualifications in the higher service for health and nursing are allowed to take the exam. The practical implementation of the test was transferred to an association, Pharmig , by ordinance from the Federal Ministry of Health through the Association of the Austrian Chemical Industry in the Austrian Chamber of Commerce .

In contrast to Germany, it is not necessary to provide proof of training to take the exam. However, there are some companies that offer a workshop or weekend seminars to prepare for the exam.

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