Medical Affairs: From Info Gatekeeper to Value Driver
Medical affairs professionals are required to work with multiple interior and exterior groups. However, many life sciences companies limit the information that external stakeholders receive. Therefore, they often do not provide medical affairs with critical data, hindering their ability to develop productive relationships. Cegedim conducted a series of workshops with medical affairs professionals and life science executives to discuss solutions to this issue. Experts decided that the goal of medical affairs should be to “drive value for their company.”
In order to do this, medical affairs should use more open and frequent communication between companies and their external stakeholders. In addition, they should promote collaboration between departments in their own company. Lastly, they should help to promote a positive image of the company, get products to market quicker, and increase sales. To be successful, life sciences companies must include medical affairs in all stages of business and must allow medical affairs full access to essential information.
