Indian pharma industry which showed robust hiring of qualified candidates in quality control and manufacturing departments in 2016 is expected to sustain a similar growth momentum in 2017, according to industry observers.
 
In 2016, the pharma manufacturers focused on hiring across quality control departments including quality assurance. The Indian industry wanted to prove its quality image as a manufacturing hub for global drug companies. The sector had received a beating following observations by international regulatory authorities. Therefore the intent of the sector was to prove that it was serious on quality processes and systems to be in place, Uma Nandan Misra, dean, Pharmacy Training Institute, Bengaluru told Pharmabiz.
 
In 2017, the industry will need to move a step ahead to prove the perception and the reality on its quality adherence standards. With regards to perception it is documentation and in the case of reality is the quality mindset of its professionals, he added.
 
What is being observed is that many non pharma candidates specializing in science are seen to head the quality control departments. The need of the hour is to appoint quality post graduate or doctorate pharma candidate to head this department. Although we do see this happening, it is required to take place extensively in all pharma companies, noted Misra, who added that the demand of quality control personnel was evident, as Pharmacy Training Institute too is now conducting its 3rd programme in this specialization for fresh B Pharm candidates.
 
Keeping in sync with the ‘medicine for masses’ model, we see manufacture indicating an upswing in hiring as Indian companies are focusing on generic drug production for global market needs, said Misra.
 
Concurring with Misra was TeamLease, India’s temp staffing major which stated that 2017 is to be a good year for pharma sector and hiring is expected to go up by 20-25 per cent.
 
Owing to the increase in demand for generic drugs and the manufacturing cost advantage that India presents pharma industry is expected to witness exponential growth this year. In fact, India is most likely to emerge as among the top pharma players across the globe. Further, large Indian MNCs are also set to bring in foreign joint ventures and investments to scale-up their businesses here. The exponential growth expected will also witness companies investing extensively on manpower, according to TeamLease.
 
With rural market becoming a critical growth area the job creation will not be contained to metros, but talent acquisition will be extended to tier 2 and tier 3 cities pan-India, said Munira Loliwala, Business Head- Pharma,TeamLease Services
 
The positive sentiment in the sector will give a fillip to fresher hiring as well. Incentives and salaries will also see a remarkable jump. Talent can expect a 10- 12 per cent increment in salaries. While the sector will see a huge demand for sales & product specialist roles, the need for high-skilled R&D and innovation professionals would still be a challenge the sector will need to address too, she added.
 
Specifically in 2017, there will be massive hiring in R&D and marketing personnel. It would also see an increased recognition of the community pharmacists. Here the government will need to device a policy to ensure presence of pharmacists in patient care will take of the load from the doctors who could focus only on diagnosis and devising treatment protocol, with community pharmacists taking over the drug regime, said Misra.