How to attract doctors to careers in the fields of pharmaceutical medicine and medical devices?

Abstract

It has become a major challenge not only to retain but also to attract medical professionals to a career in the healthcare products field whether in the public or private sector. There is no denying that France has a shortage of doctors qualified to work in these fields and that public or private organisations alike are experiencing great difficulty in filling vacancies. Unlike elsewhere in Europe, and with the exception of complex pathways imposed on university hospital professors, French training courses do not really provide doctors with specialised training in healthcare products. Many and varied careers nevertheless do exist. However, these careers are not sufficiently visible to future doctors or to the general public. A more dedicated specialist curriculum is called for to meet the many needs of public institutions and private companies. Any such curriculum should be underpinned by solid initial clinical training as an indispensable foundation regardless of future career path. To improve visibility, specialty training in Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics must be set up with the support and assistance of the various national bodies. Against a backdrop of activities with a largely globalised reach, the availability in France of healthcare product specialists is key to maintaining national control of activities that exert a significant impact on the economy and on public health.

Keywords: Healthcare products; Industry; Medical careers; Pharmacology; Therapeutics; Training.