Transition from Hospital Pharmacy to the Pharmaceutical Industry: where to start?

The career in hospital pharmacy is rich in challenges, learning and direct impact on the lives of patients. But many professionals, at some point, begin to consider new paths - and the pharmaceutical industry emerges as one of the main alternatives.

If you are at this turning point, know that this transition is possible. And more than that: it is feasible, strategic and valued by the market - especially when you identify your transferrable skills and understand the possibilities of entering the industry.

In this post, I gathered the main areas of entry-level action for pharmacists in transition, as well as practical tips on how to start the search for opportunities in the industry.

Main Areas of Entry into the Pharmaceutical Industry

1. Regulatory Affairs (Regulatory Affairs)

This is one of the most accessible gateways for those who have an affinity with rules and documentary organisation. It involves the preparation and submission of dossiers to regulatory agencies such as ANVISA.

Start here: introductory courses on regulatory matters, knowledge of the most important RDCs and familiarity with drug registration processes.

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2. Pharmacovigilance

Have you ever dealt with adverse events in the hospital environment? This experience has great value here. Pharmacovigilance takes care of the safety of medicines after their marketing, monitoring and analysing adverse reactions.

Start here: understand the notification flows, study tools like VigiMed and invest in PV courses.

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3. Medical Information

This area deals with technical care to health professionals, answering questions about products, adverse effects, dosages and much more. It requires good communication and scientific mastery.

Start here: develop clarity in written and verbal communication and improve your ability to translate technical information for diverse audiences.

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4. Medical Writing

If you like to write and have ease with technical and scientific texts, this can be an excellent area. The medical writer works in the production of scientific materials, trainings, dossiers and publications.

Start here: create a portfolio with texts (articles, scientific summaries), take specific courses in the area and practice scientific writing in English.

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5. Medical Affairs / Scientific Training

This area involves the training of sales teams, internal training and scientific support for products. A great path for those who like to teach and have technical mastery.

Start here: strengthen your didactics, practice presentations and stay up to date on diseases and industry products.

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6. Clinical Research

If you have already had contact with clinical protocols or observational studies in the hospital, this can be a natural transition. Clinical research is responsible for ensuring the ethical and safe conduct of studies.

Start here: look for positions such as CTA (Clinical Trial Assistant), take Good Clinical Practises (GCP) courses and learn about the phases of clinical trials.

How to Start Your Job Search

In addition to understanding the areas, it is essential to organise yourself for the transition process. Here are some practical steps:

1. Update your resume focussing on the industry:

Highlight transferrable experiences and skills (such as knowledge of pharmacology, attention to detail, experience with protocols, etc.).

2. Take targeted courses:

Platforms such as Coursera, Udemy, PECE/USP, ICTQ, among others, offer excellent introductory training.

3. Activate vacancy alerts:

On LinkedIn, Gupy, Kenoby, Vagas.com and even on the career pages of the pharmaceutical industries. Use keywords such as "trainee", "junior", "analyst", "pharmacovigilance", "regulatory", "medical writer", "CRA", etc.

4. Build a network:

Connect with professionals in the field on LinkedIn, participate in events and webinars and don't be afraid to ask for guidance.

5. Practice the interview:

Study the common questions, learn to tell your trajectory with a focus on results and train your presentation pitch.

Conclusion

The transition from hospital pharmacy to the pharmaceutical industry is not a step backwards - it is a change of direction. And like every change, it requires planning, study and patience.

But you already have something valuable: real experience with patients, technical knowledge and a clinical vision that makes a difference. The market needs professionals like you - and the first step is to believe in that.

For while the position that I am interested to get into is Medical Writing and Regulatory Affairs.

I am going to start a series of posts talking about regulations and their requirements and How Start learning to become a Medical writer with online  and free Sources.

If this content helped you, share it with colleagues who are also on this journey. And if you've already made this transition, tell us here in the comments what your path was!