Medical Representatives, or MRs, are responsible for selling and promoting various medical supplies. This can be either medical devices or drug solutions. If you are an aspirant looking in this field, then learning the role of medical representative is paramount. This article will detail the job profile’s duties, qualifications, and salary.
What is a Medical Representative’s Job Description?
The primary duty here includes ensuring that doctors and nurses are up-to-date with the new technologies in the medical field. Other important jobs of MR are sales and distribution of medical equipment and medicines.
What does a Medical Representative do?
The major medical representative role and responsibilities is to maintain cordial relationships with the hospital staff. They also update the professionals on the latest technologies, etc. Let us look at some of the important duties.
Establishing And Maintaining Relationships
One common answer to what is role of MR is ensuring a smooth connection with the doctors, nurses, etc. This can be achieved by visiting them frequently.
i. Building Relationships With Healthcare Professionals (HCPS) Such As Doctors, Pharmacists, And Nurses
Remember that medical staff will buy a product based on the bond of trust and loyalty. Hence, maintaining a proper relationship with them is a major medical representative responsibilities you must consider.
ii. Regular Visits To Medical Offices, Hospitals, And Pharmacies
You must often visit the healthcare centres to ensure smooth functioning. This will help you establish an effective and useful network.
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Promoting Products
The second most essential role is promoting the products before beginning with sales and distribution.
i. Educating HCPS on Pharmaceutical Products And Medical Devices
While learning what is the job of a medical representative, remember that trust and understanding is important. Hence, before selling, explain how and why the product is beneficial.
ii. Presenting Product Information And Benefits To Healthcare Professionals
While promoting the device or drugs, ensure you provide relevant information to the doctors and nurses. Additionally, state how the product’s features will help doctors and patients.
iii. Organising And Conducting Product Presentations And Demonstrations
As all of us know, doctors work under critical time constraints. Hence, make your meeting concise and impactful. While presenting the product advantages, use presentations, graphs, demonstrations, etc.
Sales And Distribution
Another major role of medical representative is the sales of medical devices and pharmaceutical drugs. Moreover, they must track the inventory at various hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, etc.
i. Meeting Sales Targets And Objectives
As a representative of a medical company, the most common answer to what is the work of a medical representative is meeting the company’s monthly sales target. Also, you must fulfil objectives like researching competitors, tracking potential leads, etc.
ii. Monitoring Product Inventory Levels At Pharmacies And Hospitals
To know how and where to supply the products, keeping track of the inventory levels is necessary. This is necessary to keep your company ready with the supplies.
iii. Negotiating Sales Contracts And Agreements With Healthcare Institutions
Another important role of medical representative in the case of sales and distribution. You must learn how to negotiate sales agreements and contracts diplomatically. This will help to maximise your profit and ensure the benefit of your client.
Market Research
As a medical rep it is important to help the company to progress. Hence, conducting frequent market searches and gathering competitor details is necessary. Also, providing valuable insights into marketing and development is included in the duties.
i. Gathering And Analysing Market Intelligence And Competitor Information
You must often conduct market research to update yourself on your competitors’ strategies. This will also help analyse the market demands, aiding in becoming more competent.
ii. Providing Feedback To The Marketing And Product Development Teams
It is the role of a medical representative to share the data with the product and development teams. This will help them to build their strategies more effectively.
Reporting And Documentation
You need to maintain detailed data on the product’s sales performance. Use that data to measure the popularity of that product is fundamental. This helps the company to improve and promote more targeted products.
i. Keeping Detailed Records Of Sales Activities, Customer Interactions, And Market Trends
It is the role of medical representative to track customer interactions and the changing market trends in the medical field. You must also keep detailed data on the various sales activities.
ii. Generating Sales Reports And Performance Metrics For Management Review
Use your research data to generate sales reports to gauge the success of a product. Another role of medical representative is utilising and reviewing the product’s performance. This will help to identify the rectifications required.
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Required Skills and Qualifications
An MR aspirant should check the medical representative job qualifications required for application.
Education And Training
The basic education and training required to become an MR are as follows.
i. Bachelor’s Degree In Pharmacy, Life Sciences, Business, Or Related Field
After completing class 12, you must get a bachelor’s degree. It should be in nursing, pharmacy, biology, and other medical domains.
ii. Additional Certifications Or Training In Sales And Marketing Is Beneficial
Enrolling in management, marketing or communication skills training is an added benefit. Negotiations and maintaining public relations are essential role of medical representative. Hence these trainings will be helpful.
Communication Skills
Possessing adequate vocal skills for negotiations and promoting product benefits to healthcare professionals is paramount.
i. Excellent Verbal And Written Communication Skills
The major duty of an MR is communicating the different product details, negotiating sales contracts and agreements, maintaining good public relations, etc. Hence, the primary medical representative skills required are verbal and written communication abilities.
ii. Ability To Effectively Present Complex Information To Diverse Audiences
It is not necessary that everyone will understand the benefits of the device or drug at once. Hence, MRs should simplify complex information for the audience to understand better.
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Sales And Negotiation Skills
This job profile requires proper negotiation skills for dealing with contracts and agreements. Moreover, another important role of medical representative is meeting the sales target.
i. Proven Track Record In Sales, Preferably In The Healthcare Industry
If you are good in sales, especially in the medical industry, you are a step closer to achieving your dream. A good sales record will be beneficial since sales is an integral duty of MRs.
ii. Strong Negotiation Skills And Ability To Close Deals
As an MR, you must be able to negotiate contracts and deals. Moreover, you must be able to close deals to ensure the interests of the client and the company.
Analytical Abilities
In such a job profile, problems are sure to arise; hence, problem-solving abilities are necessary. Moreover, MRs must analyse the market and suggest opportunities for potential growth.
i. Strong Analytical And Problem-Solving Skills
Signing contracts and closing deals very often give rise to various disagreements. Hence, you must have proper problem-solving skills. This can safeguard the company’s and client’s interests when signing contracts or agreements
ii. Ability To Analyse Market Trends And Identify Opportunities For Growth
It is the role of medical representative to study the market changes and update about the innovations in this sector. Moreover, they need to use this information to identify various growth opportunities.
Organisational Skills
Multitasking and working under deadlines are other very important skills required by MRs. Additionally, they must be able to fulfil more than one objective within a given time.
i. Effective Time Management And Organisational Skills
Time management is the key to being a successful medical representative. Hence, you must be very efficient with time constraints and meeting deadlines.
ii. Ability To Manage Multiple Tasks And Priorities Simultaneously
Though not always, sometimes you need to handle more than one task. In those situations, you cannot falter; hence, the ability to multitask is necessary.
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Medical Representative Job Description Example
If you are seeking MR job opportunities, let us help you with job descriptions. Listed below are three examples of what a medical rep job looks like.
Example 1: Pharmaceutical Sales Representative
– Overview of responsibilities and qualifications tailored to pharmaceutical sales
The ‘Company’s name’ is seeking an efficient medical representative to promote our products. Candidates with good communication skills, proficiency in meeting deadlines, and good public relations with healthcare professionals are welcome to apply.
Responsibilities
- They need to conduct market research and reach out to prospective clients
- Meet the client’s demands and needs by promoting new products
- Fulfil the sales target within the given time limit
- Maintain cordial relationships with doctors and nurses.
Required Skills
- A bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in pharma, biology, nursing or other relevant fields
- Exceptional communication skills
- Industry knowledge of the medical field.
Example 2: Medical Device Sales Representative
– Description of duties and requirements specific to selling medical devices
‘Company’s name’ is looking for a medical device sales representative to promote our medical devices in hospitals, clinics, etc. Candidates with proper marketing and sales skills can apply for this job.
Responsibilities
- Understand the client’s needs to sell the necessary products accordingly
- Perform product demonstrations and present presentations on the devices’ properties
- Provide clients with essential devices to meet the monthly targets.
- Maintain a friendly but professional relationship with healthcare professionals.
Required Skills
- A bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in pharma, biology, nursing or other relevant fields
- Exceptional written and verbal skills
- Have negotiating and analytical skills
Example 3: Hospital Sales Representative
– Job description focusing on selling pharmaceutical products to hospitals and healthcare institutions
Our ‘company’s name’ is seeking a hospital sales representative to promote our products to various healthcare centres and hospitals. Candidates with proper communication and management skills can apply for this job.
Responsibilities
- Understand the client’s needs and thus provide proper products
- Monitor the inventory of hospitals and healthcare centres
- Analyse the market data to identify growth opportunities
- Establish a good relationship with hospital professionals
Required Skills
- A bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in pharma, biology, nursing or other relevant fields
- Adequate communication and negotiating skills
- Ability to multitask and follow deadlines.
What is Medical Representative Salary?
The average salary for medical representatives in Malaysia can vary based on experience, location, and specific employer.
General Salary Overview
- Entry-Level (0-2 years of experience): Approximately RM 30,000 - RM 45,000 per annum.
- Mid-Level (3-5 years of experience): Approximately RM 45,000 - RM 70,000 per annum.
- Senior-Level (5+ years of experience): Approximately RM 70,000 - RM 100,000 per annum.
Salary by City
|
City |
Average Annual Salary |
|
Kuala Lumpur |
RM 60,000 |
|
Petaling Jaya |
RM 55,000 |
|
Johor Bahru |
RM 50,000 |
|
Penang |
RM 48,000 |
|
Kota Kinabalu |
RM 45,000 |
Salary by Industry
|
Industry |
Average Annual Salary |
|
Pharmaceuticals |
RM 70,000 |
|
Healthcare |
RM 65,000 |
|
Biotechnology |
RM 60,000 |
|
Medical Devices |
RM 58,000 |
Salary by Top Employers
|
Company |
Average Annual Salary |
|
Pfizer Malaysia |
RM 90,000 |
|
Merck Sharp & Dohme |
RM 85,000 |
|
GlaxoSmithKline |
RM 80,000 |
|
Various Multinational Corporations |
RM 75,000 |
This overview indicates that medical representatives in Malaysia can expect varying salaries based on their experience and the type of employer. The demand for skilled medical representatives is significant as companies focus on the sales and marketing of healthcare products.
Is a Medical Representative a Good Career?
A medical representative bridges the gap between the healthcare industry and manufacturing companies. Hence, without MRs, the smooth operational flow will be disrupted. This has led to the growing demand for this career option. Thus, being a medical representative is a growing career opportunity.
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Conclusion
Medical Representatives are necessary to ensure the continuous supply to the healthcare centres. Hence, if you are an aspirant, ensure you have great communication and sales skills.
FAQ’s on Medical Representative Job
Q1. What is a Medical Representative?
A1. Those who are responsible for promoting and providing medical products like devices and drugs to hospitals are MRs. They also have analysing and organisational duties.
Q2. What are the skills required?
A2. Communication and negotiating skills are a must. Also, meeting deadlines and multitasking are required in this field.
Q3. What are the necessary qualifications?
A3. A bachelor’s degree or equivalent in pharma, biology, nursing, etc. Additional sales and marketing skills are added benefits
Q4. What is the average annual remuneration?
A4. The average salary is four to five lakhs. But, the salary package will vary depending on your qualifications and experience.
