Will e-Marketing (in the Pharmaceutical Industry) one day replace the role of the personal seller, as the NHS continues to evolve?

Above is the working title of my dissertation. I am hoping it will generate a range of debates forming a synergistic group of opinions, aimed at predicting the future of Sales and Marketing in an industry that is becoming more intensely regulated year after year.

I am actively seeking the opinions of:
• HCPs including GPs and clinicians working in Secondary Care
• Pharmaceutical Sales and Marketing Professionals

• Electronic Marketing Professionals

(Within the UK)

Please feel free to express your true opinions towards recent changes in regulations throughout the industry, your future predictions and political views. You do not need to register any personal details if you do not wish to. However, please could you provide your professional background on your first post.

An initial view to the general title…

“No, but it will probably become more important than face 2 face. Primarily because doctors will begin to prefer it… time management etc.
Secondly because pharma companies can produce so many more metrics from the marketing to help understand their ROI
Major issue to be tackled is, ‘Where is the carrot’ - Reps visit docs with free samples of expensive drugs or take them to swanky restaurants - no matter how many semi transparent, glass effect buttons a flash website has it aint gonna replace that.
Final issue is how do we verify docs? - No pharma or 3rd party CRM DB is 100% correct, even if it is, how do we know for sure that the person logging in is Dr Smith?
Some sort of external authorisation using GMC registration numbers?”

(UK Pharma Media Agency Director)

Are you a ‘Medical Prescriber’?

• Do you find time to see pharma sales reps? Why not? Are policies in place within your Trust to prevent free prescribing, or from you seeing reps?
• How important is it that you have a personal ‘human; relationship with them?
• prescribing decisions?
• drug education?

Are you a Marketing professional:

Which e-Marketing tools have proven most effective?
How would the future look without a salesforce?

Are you a field based Sales Representative?

Do you believe customers ultimately prescribe/buy based on:

• Your sales ability
• The strength of your relationship with the individual
• Your product is clearly the best option for the patient?

Let the discussion commence…..