Pharmaceutical industry is one of the largest industry in India, its demand for efficient manpower is continuously on the rise. The winds of change globalisation and liberalisation is fast penetrating into the industry.

The Pharmaceutical Industry is a company which produces/manufactures various medicines / drugs (Ayurvedic, Homeopathic or Allopathic) at various levels - the Basic level of Bulk/Formulation/Generics/Brands and supplies it to the end -user i.e. the patent through marketing and distribution network. Bulk Drug manufacturers are those involved in the production of the basic ingredient/raw material of a medicine.

Pharma Industry and its activities can be understood in an easier way by this simple illustration as below:

The Pharma Industry in India ranks second next to Textiles. Among third world countries, India has been recognised by UNIDO, as one of the top ranking countries in terms of Production and Distribution of Pharma. At the time of Indian Independence the value of pharmaceuticals output was only Rs. 10 Crore bulk drugs into formulations with no production base. Today, the industry has grown in a gigantic way both in terms of output and product diversification.

At present, thee are over 15000 drug manufacturing units in the country with a predominance of small scale units. The relatively large scale units in the organised sector number about 250, including six FERA companies and 5 Units in public sector. There were 31 FERA companies with direct foreign equity exceeding 40 percent in March 1978 on the eve of the announcement of drug policy (1978). Since then most of them have diluted their foreign equity to 40% or below. Since then there are only 5 FERA companies viz., Alkali & Chemicals Ltd., (amalgamated with ICI), Bayer India Ltd., Johnson & Johnson Ltd., Roche products Ltd., Sandoz India Ltd., Wyeth Laboratories. The Public sector units are Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (IDPL), Bengal Chemical and Pharmaceuticals (BCPL), Bengal Immunity Ltd., (BIL) and Smithe Stainstreet Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (SSPL). The Organized sector units numbering about 250 (including 5 Fera + 5 Psu) account for nearly 70% of the Industry's total value of production. The national sector has witnessed a spectacular growth over the last two decades. It now accounts for 90% of the production of the industry including that of small-scale sector.

In the wake of liberalisation of globalisation policy of government and GATT/WTO etc. competition has been intensified. More and more companies are coming with the latest technologies and research products. Indian Multinational companies are also changing their gears to meet the challenges of Post-Liberalisation period and to adapt and respond to changing environment. Now Pharmaceutical companies are not merely producing and selling the products but are more concentrating on the customer oriented integrated management action with managers having practical approach to simplify the decision making process. Even by a recent from IIPM, Pharmaceutical Career aspirants can think beyond Medical Representatives and Chemists as now new exciting careers in Product Management, Training and Development, Market Research, Corporate Communications, International Business Management, Production Planning are also open upto them.

Ordinarily a Pharmaceutical Marketing Executive starts with a salary of Rs. 5000/- onwards plus perks applicable as power company's policy and MNC's offer much higher starting scales i.e. Rs. 8000/- to 10000/-. The senior positions have comparatively attractive pay packets in the Industry.

Companies like Glaxo, Cadila, Cipla, Lupin, JK Pharma, Pfizer, Zandu, Dabour India, Bayer India, Ranbaxy, Orchid Chemical, Nicholas Pirmal, Torrent Pharma, Unichem, FDC, Dr. Reddy's Lab, Sun Pharma, TTL Pharma, Parke Davis, Smithkline Beecham etc. appoint fresh graduates preferably having added qualification in Pharmaceutical Marketing in their marketing divisions.