Pharmaceutical Sales Representative As of January 1st, 2009, pharmaceutical companies have voluntarily agreed to ban their pharmaceutical sales representatives from bringing gifts and food to their clients which are mainly physician's offices and hospitals. I this article I will discuss the pros and cons of banning a pharmaceutical sales representative from doing so, and the impact it may have on sales of the product as well as the impact on the pharmaceutical sales representative position itself. This recent decision by the pharmaceutical companies, in my opinion no doubt is an attempt at damage control with the new Obama administration. There is much scrutiny regarding the pharmaceutical sales representative's sales tactics, which include hosting lavish events and staggering fees paid to physicians for speaking engagements. pharmaceutical sales representatives also are known for bringing gifts such as pens and pads of paper to the offices that they call on. Some cater lunch for the physicians and their office staff. Can these small, seemly meaningless gifts really influence whether or not a pharmaceutical sales representative can get face time with a physician? The numbers seems to reflect that this is the case. Promotional products are a 19 billion dollar industry. Having worked myself in several medical settings, I know how hard it can be for a pharmaceutical sales representatives to get through the front line at a physician's office. Most receptionists and front desk staff are trained to turn away pharmaceutical sales representatives that call on these offices. At that time, gift such as pens, pads of paper, post-it notes and tissue boxes are left with the front desk staff. All of these gifts include the logo of the company and usually the latest, greatest drug they are selling. These gifts rarely make it into the hands of the actual physician, but can help in swaying the front office staff's opinion of the pharmaceutical sales representative. This is important to the pharmaceutical sales representative as they need to get through these gatekeepers. The ban on such gifts admittedly makes it more difficult for a new pharmaceutical sales representative to establish a relationship with the physicians. Most physicians are so busy that the only face time you cane get is the short time they will sit down for lunch. Bringing in food was a great way for a pharmaceutical sales representative to get a physician to take a break in the midst of their very busy day to sit and listen to the pharmaceutical sales representative. One thing that has been omitted from the ban is the fact that the pharmaceutical sales representatives will still be permitted to leave free drug samples in physician's offices. These medications get handed out like candy. I suspect this practice has been increasing due to the overwhelming number of Americans that are without health insurance at this time. I, myself am currently in this position and was in need of medication. My physician gave me over a month's supply of the medication. After all, it didn't cost him anything and I was a very happy customer since he just saved me a lot of money. The cost of the medication at the pharmacy is overwhelmingly ridiculous. I'm quite sure my free monthly supply was not what the pharmaceutical sales representative had in mind when they left them at the physician's office. Related Articles Pharmaceutical Sales Rep Medical Sales