Like any other job, there are several key Duties and Responsibilities a Medical Representative should achieve to successfully continue working with the company. But first, a medical representative is a healthcare professional who is responsible for promoting and selling pharmaceutical products to doctors, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals. They play a vital role in the healthcare system by providing information about new and existing products, and by helping to ensure that patients receive the best possible care.

The duties and responsibilities of a medical representative include:

• Providing information about pharmaceutical products: Medical representatives must have a thorough understanding of the products they represent, including their uses, benefits, and side effects. They must be able to communicate this information clearly and concisely to healthcare professionals.
• Building relationships with healthcare professionals: Medical representatives must build relationships with healthcare professionals in order to be successful. They must be able to listen to the needs of healthcare professionals and provide them with the information and support they need.
• Promoting new products: Medical representatives are responsible for promoting new products to healthcare professionals. They must be able to educate healthcare professionals about the benefits of new products and how they can help their patients.
• Managing a territory: Medical representatives are typically assigned a territory, which includes a specific group of healthcare professionals. They are responsible for managing their territory by visiting healthcare professionals, tracking sales, and reporting on their activities.
• Build close liaison with target customers and KOLs of the territory to use them for scientific activities and the maximum generation of prescriptions of the products.
• Medical representative (Medrep) is required to prepare target customers’ lists as per guidelines, visit them regularly and frequently as per company policy, and communicate product messages effectively, resulting in the prescription generation and sales of the assigned territory.
• The medical representative has the duty and responsibility of reviewing doctors’ lists of the whole territory at least twice a year, maintaining a record of the whole territory, and ensuring effective and timely reporting.
• As a med rep, you should ensure regular chemists visit in order to get feedback about the prescriptions of the defined products and competitors.
• Research Competitors - as a medical representative, you must research competitors to ensure you are providing competitive information such as bid situations, pricing data, or bundling arrangements in order to establish negotiated pricing contracts for assigned products.
• In addition, the company depends on the medical representative to gather, analyze, and deliver information from the field to allow the company to develop strategies and products appropriate to the Quality and Safety Testing market.

Medical representatives play an important role in the healthcare system.

They are responsible for providing information about pharmaceutical products, building relationships with healthcare professionals, and promoting new products.

If you are interested in a career in healthcare, a position as a medical representative may be a good option for you.

Additional details about the duties and responsibilities of a medical representative:

• Education and training: Most medical representatives possess a bachelor's degree in a healthcare-related field, such as pharmacy, nursing, life sciences, or biology. Some employers may also require candidates to have a master's degree in business administration (MBA).
• Salary and benefits: The salary and benefits of medical representatives vary depending on the company they work for, their experience, and their location. However, medical representatives typically earn a good salary and receive a variety of benefits, such as health insurance, paid travel allowance, paid vacation, and retirement plans.
• Job outlook: The job outlook for medical representatives is expected to grow faster than average in the coming years. This is due to the increasing demand for pharmaceutical products and advancement in both diagnostic and demand for healthcare professionals such as doctors and nurses. Therefore, pharmaceutical companies will need more medical representatives to promote these products to healthcare professionals.

Skills a medical representative should have:

• Communication skills: Medical representatives must be able to communicate effectively with healthcare professionals, both verbally and in writing. They must be able to clearly and concisely explain the benefits of their products and answer any questions that healthcare professionals may have.
• Sales skills: Medical representatives must be able to sell their products to healthcare professionals. They must be able to build relationships with healthcare professionals and understand their needs. They must also be able to overcome objections and close deals.
• Medical knowledge: Medical representatives must have a basic understanding of medical terminology and concepts. They must be able to understand the products they represent and how they work.
• Problem-solving skills: Medical representatives must be able to solve problems that arise in their territory. They must be able to think on their feet and come up with creative solutions.
• Organizational skills: Medical representatives must be able to manage their time and territory effectively. They must be able to keep track of their appointments, sales, and expenses.
• Traveling skills: Medical representatives may be required to travel to different parts of the country or world to visit healthcare professionals. They must be able to travel safely and efficiently.

Additional skills a medical representative should possess:

• High attention to detail is important because medical representatives must be able to accurately and concisely explain the benefits of their products to healthcare professionals. They must also be able to identify and correct any errors in their presentations.
• The ability to work independently is important because medical representatives often work alone in their territories. They must be able to manage their time and workload effectively and be able to work independently to achieve their goals.
• The ability to work as a positive team player is important because medical representatives often work with other medical representatives, sales representatives, and healthcare professionals. They must be able to collaborate with others and share information effectively.

What are the tips that a medical representative can use to make a sale?

• Do your research: Before you meet with a healthcare professional, make sure you do your research and understand their needs. This will help you tailor your presentation to their specific interests.
• Be prepared: Make sure you are prepared for your meeting by having all of the necessary materials, such as product samples, brochures, and handouts.
• Be confident: Believe in your product and your ability to help healthcare professionals. This confidence will be conveyed to the healthcare professional and make them more likely to trust you.
• Be persistent: Don't give up if you don't close the deal right away. Continue to follow up with the healthcare professional and let them know about any new developments with your product.
• Be patient: It takes time to build relationships with healthcare professionals and close deals. Don't expect to close every deal you make.
• Be professional: Always dress and act professionally when you are meeting with healthcare professionals. This will show them that you are serious about your business.

By following these tips, you can increase your chances of making close deals and making sales as a medical representative.

Here are some additional tips that may be helpful:

• Be a good listener: Take the time to listen to the healthcare professional's needs and concerns. This will help you understand what they are looking for in a product and how your product can help them.
• Be empathetic: Show that you understand the healthcare professional's challenges and that you are committed to helping them. This will build trust and make them more likely to do business with you.
• Be solution-oriented: Focus on providing solutions to the healthcare professional's problems. This will show them that you are a valuable resource and that you can help them improve the care they provide to their patients.
• Be patient: It takes time to build relationships with healthcare professionals and close deals. Don't get discouraged if you don't see results immediately. Keep working hard and eventually, you will start to see success.

If you are interested in a career as a medical representative, there are a few things you can do to increase your chances of getting hired. First, make sure you have the necessary education and training. Second, network with people in the industry and attend industry events. Third, develop your sales skills. Finally, be prepared to work hard and be persistent.

You can also read more about Signature Healthcare Limited, a leading pharmaceutical company in Kenya with several pharmaceutical products such as Sign Kit for treating H. pylori