Job Responsibilities
Overall healthcare research with primary responsibility for
reimbursement / Health economic work. Research of secondary
sources, market reports, internal client reports. About half a
day is spent on seraching sources and evaluating the
information; the remaining time is pent on creating documents,
compiling reports, data analysis and presentations. Client
interaction over email/phone is constant, amounting to an hour
or two every day. Face-to-face meetings are occasional.
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Job Requirements
The usual pathway involves a combination of relevant science
(e.g. pharmacy, medicine, biostatistics, biochemistry,
epidemiology) and business degrees (marketing, MBA). Most people
have at least a Master's level education, often PhD.
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Uppers
In principle, the job is interesting and presents great opportunity for life
long learning. Projects tend not to extend beyond 3 months so variety is
guaranteed. Different projects have different skill and knowledge requirements so
you're constantly upgrading and impoving your knowledge. It's a great job for
problem solevers.
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Downers
The constant need for enthusiasm and energy. Every project
requires a level of quality that may be difficult to maintaing
while juggling multiple projects. Also, often you have to learn
something in the morning to apply and appear a master in it in
the afternoon. This can be difficult to achieve when tired.
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Lifestyle
Workload can be heavy and unpredictible. Deadlines are always there. The average
week is 50-60 hours. You have to LOVE your job to be doing it!
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Compensation
Not spectacular, about 20% less than pharma company equivalent.
An acceptable trade-off when you consider the variety of it and
the lack of politics!
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Advice to Jobseekers
Test drive it for 2 years. If it's for you, you'll know by then.
If it looses its sheen, at least you have a good knowledge base
to move on with!
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