OPPI Conclave focuses on attracting young talent to the pharmaceutical industry

(L-R) Ranjana Smetacek, Director General, OPPI; SK ‘Bal’ Palekar, Chairman, Executive Education Centre, SP Jain Institute; Dr Shailesh Ayyangar, President, OPPI; Lawrence Ganti, Vice President, OPPI and Dietmar Eidens, Executive Vice President, Human Resources, Merck Serono during the inaugural session of OPPI HR Conclave

The Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI) recently hosted an HR Conclave on “Talent Attraction – Engaging Gen Y” in Mumbai to address the human resources challenge in the pharmaceutical sector. The event brought together industry stalwarts, multinational pharma companies, distinguished academicians and HR leaders from the pharma and allied sectors.

Addressing the gathering, Ranjana Smetacek, Director General, OPPI said, “Gen Y, or the 20-to-30-something age group, today constitutes a major part of the country’s workforce and will bring us tomorrow’s leaders. The pharma industry also needs to retain and nurture existing talent and equip young workers with the skills and knowledge, necessary for a better understanding of emerging challenges and opportunities.”

The key-note speaker, Dietmar Eidens, Executive Vice President, Human Resources, Merck Serono said, “Globally as well as in India, the pharma industry is rapidly undergoing changes. The pace of this transformation has made it important to invest in developing young talent and adapting to their needs. As Generation Y begins to play a more important role in the workforce, the pharma industry will also need to adjust to the changing workplace dynamic and cultivate a strong image as an ‘employer of choice.’”

The pharma industry in India has clocked double digit growth rate in the last five years and this is expected to continue in 2014. With several multinational companies operating in this space, there are more jobs in the pharma sector and a great scope for hiring. Dr Shailesh Ayyangar, President – OPPI and Managing Director, India and Vice President, South Asia, Sanofi, added, “The very nature of the pharma business, treating patients and providing integrated healthcare access, will certainly go a long way in meeting key career aspirations of Generation Y, looking for ‘social value’ and ‘instant gratification’ in what they do. In turn, the pharma industry, now delving into new-age marketing and sales promotion models, can benefit greatly from this Generation which is well informed, agile, unconventional, has unlimited access to information, and takes responsibility for their thoughts and actions. Furthermore, our sector has an edge over others having proven resilience during the economic downturn. Stronger focus on patient well-being; a steadily growing population, per capita income and government expenditure; are promising in terms of potential and experience, for those who are establishing their careers.”

With a strong commitment to attracting and nurturing young talent, OPPI has also been organising sessions under its ‘OPPI Academia Programme’ at leading management institutes across India. Here the aim is to provide students an understanding of growth trends, challenges and business models of the healthcare industry, and understand their concerns and suggestions.

EP News Bureau – Mumbai