The Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Industry is complex and involves many facets of information.
It is important to research both the role and the industry thoroughly.
This will give you a clear insight and make you sound more comprehensive at interview.
Please go through our graduate advice section where you will find some useful information and weblinks.
Graduate Advice
The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry
The National Institute of Clinical Excellence
Practice based commissioning (PBC)
The National Health Service
Primary Care Trusts (Primary Care Organisations)
The General Medical Services Contract
The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry 
ABPI is an acronym for The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry. The ABPI was formed in 1930. It was formed to group together pharmaceutical organisations in Britain involves in the manufacture and distribution of medicines. The ABPI ensures fair practice in areas such as research and development, as well as allowing innovative technologies to be used to assure patient access to the best available medicines.
Most pharmaceutical companies involved with the manufacture, marketing, sales and distribution of prescription medicines for human use in the UK, are members of the ABPI and thus are brought together in partnership.The ABPI represents these companies and speaks for them to political and government bodies, as well as the media,healthcare professionals, academic bodies and the general public.
The ABPI operates a code of practice to which companies must adhere in order to promote the use of their products.It is for this reason that medical representatives must sit an examination within their first year of being in thefield. If the representative does not pass within the year, then they have another 12 months to complete the exam. This examination ensures that representatives are aware of the qualities to which they must work to and to guarantee their knowledge of the biological and physiological workings of medicines.
http://www.abpi.org.uk/
Most pharmaceutical companies involved with the manufacture, marketing, sales and distribution of prescription medicines for human use in the UK, are members of the ABPI and thus are brought together in partnership.The ABPI represents these companies and speaks for them to political and government bodies, as well as the media,healthcare professionals, academic bodies and the general public.
The ABPI operates a code of practice to which companies must adhere in order to promote the use of their products.It is for this reason that medical representatives must sit an examination within their first year of being in thefield. If the representative does not pass within the year, then they have another 12 months to complete the exam. This examination ensures that representatives are aware of the qualities to which they must work to and to guarantee their knowledge of the biological and physiological workings of medicines.
http://www.abpi.org.uk/
The National Institute of Clinical Excellence
NICE is an acronym for The National Institute of Clinical Excellence. The institute was set up in 1999 in order to offer guidance on the usage of medicines in the UK. NICE analyses clinical data in order to determine the effectiveness and cost benefits of products which are brought to market. NICE offers information to healthcare professionals on the benefits of using certain products in order to give the best possible effects for patients.
This type of approach is used for all new medicines which are brought to the market. NICE also uses analysis and audit techniques in order to assess the effectiveness of treatments already on the market, in order that improvements may be made where necessary if the most effective medicines are not being used.
NICE aims to control the expenditure of the NHS budget by operating these tightly controlled procedures in order to determine the most clinically and cost effective strategies to treat certain conditions. This procedure cuts down on wastage of useful resources, so that they may be used in other areas that may be more beneficial. Overall NICE aims to improve the quality of treatment and patient care.
NICE guarantees that the most effective medicines are used, whilst keeping costs down to a reasonable level and ensuring that there are variations in treatments available across the prescribing board.
http://www.nice.org.uk/
This type of approach is used for all new medicines which are brought to the market. NICE also uses analysis and audit techniques in order to assess the effectiveness of treatments already on the market, in order that improvements may be made where necessary if the most effective medicines are not being used.
NICE aims to control the expenditure of the NHS budget by operating these tightly controlled procedures in order to determine the most clinically and cost effective strategies to treat certain conditions. This procedure cuts down on wastage of useful resources, so that they may be used in other areas that may be more beneficial. Overall NICE aims to improve the quality of treatment and patient care.
NICE guarantees that the most effective medicines are used, whilst keeping costs down to a reasonable level and ensuring that there are variations in treatments available across the prescribing board.
http://www.nice.org.uk/
Practice based commissioning (PBC)
PBC is about engaging practices and other primary care professionals in the commissioning of services. Through PBC, front line clinicians are being provided with the resources and support to become more involved in commissioning decisions.
Practice based commissioning will lead to high quality services for patients in local and convenient settings. GPs, nurses and other primary care professionals are in the prime position to translate patient needs into redesigned services that best deliver what local people want.
FAQ Practice Based Commissioning
Practice based commissioning will lead to high quality services for patients in local and convenient settings. GPs, nurses and other primary care professionals are in the prime position to translate patient needs into redesigned services that best deliver what local people want.
FAQ Practice Based Commissioning
The National Health Service
The National Health Service or NHS as it is more commonly known was set up on the 5th July 1948 to provide healthcare for all citizens, based on need, not the ability to pay.
Since 1948 there have been huge changes to both the organisational structure of the NHS and the way that patient services are provided.
NHS - England
NHS - Wales
NHS - Scotland
NHS - Northern Ireland
Since 1948 there have been huge changes to both the organisational structure of the NHS and the way that patient services are provided.
NHS - England
NHS - Wales
NHS - Scotland
NHS - Northern Ireland
Primary Care Trusts (Primary Care Organisations)
Primary Care is the care provided by people you normally see when you first have a health problem. It might be a visit to a doctor or dentist, an optician for an eye test, or just a trip to a pharmacist to buy cough mixture. NHS Walk-in Centres, and the phone line service NHS Direct, are also part of primary care.
All of these services are managed for you by your local Primary Care Trust (PCT).
Primary Care Trusts
All of these services are managed for you by your local Primary Care Trust (PCT).
Primary Care Trusts
The General Medical Services Contract
On 1st April 2004, the new GMS Contract was implemented across the UK. Following almost three years of negotiations on behalf of the Department of Health in England and its equivalents in the devolved administrations, the NHS Confederation has negotiated an innovative new contract with the General Practitioners Committee (GPC) of the British Medical Association (BMA).
Across the four countries, almost 100% of practices have signed up to the contract, with only 8 default contracts signed in England, and none in the other three countries.
New GMS Contract
Across the four countries, almost 100% of practices have signed up to the contract, with only 8 default contracts signed in England, and none in the other three countries.
New GMS Contract
