Cardiologist gives 'representation' to MRs, convenes meet in City today

A visit to any hospital or clinic brings one across some very neatly dressed men seen in their best attire with polished shoes and ties eagerly waiting for doctors. These are the Medical Representatives (MRs) or sales executives representing various pharmaceutical companies who wait for doctors to promote their company's products.

As the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi have the highest number of hospitals and clinics, it is but natural that the number of MRs too is very high, perhaps in thousands.

Dr Padmanabh Kamath, an Interventional Cardiologist and an Associate Professor in the Department of Cardiology at KMC Hospital (Ambedkar Circle), has come up with a novel idea of bringing them together for promoting career guidance at a large level. Stating that MRs are a highly talented bunch of youth with diverse interests, Dr Kamath opines that they are always under the scanner of their seniors and rarely dare to dream big.

"Hence, I have made an attempt to tap their true potential, make them realise their inner strength and also arrange an inspirational talk for career guidance by their peers and seniors in the field, also known as, key opinion leaders (KOL) and they will share their experience and inspire these young lot," said Dr Kamath.

Said to be the first ever conference of pharma sales executives of undivided Dakshina Kannada district, Dr Kamath said that the conference, "driven by mentorship and not sponsorship" as its slogan, is being organised without any sponsorship or donations.

On the other hand, the meet is also going to witness another unique aspect, that is, felicitating an eldest and youngest member among pharma executives. While 65-year-old Surendra Kamath, with 45 years of experience in the industry after having worked for Themis Pharma is the oldest to be felicitated, Shreedevi, representing Alembic Pharma is the youngest. "Not necessarily by age, but she was chosen for her uninterrupted service in a company for 21 years without a break, all along playing the roles of being a woman, mother, wife and homemaker," he said.

This apart, Dr Kamath has also planned a 'Young achiever award' to those who have scaled a new peak very early in their career and have produced big results. "Many asked me why is a cardiologist doing this for the pharma industry?" "I ask them why not?" quipped the cardiologist. The meet, organised at Gokul Hall near Marigudi in Ashoknagar between 9 am and 12 noon on February 18, will be attended by veterans in the pharma industry as guests. They include Shridhar Kamath, Ganesh Kamath, Vasudev Rao, Manel Raghuveer Nayak and Annu Mangalore among others.