Pfizer RAMs

Anybody hear how many RAMs were cut this week?

 

Why would any company want to cut RAMS? There is plenty of fat in the sales division and RAMS do the heavy lifting when it comes to sales.

 

The only heavy lifting they do is lifting their fat asses out of their chairs!! HA!!

 

Obviously you have no idea what a RAM does.
You probably owe 90% of you commission check to RAMs for getting formulary access in the plans in your territory. There is a reason that only the best sales reps get promoted to managed care jobs.

 

Unfortunately, for the most part, the best reps are not in these positions at my company. Many RAMS in my company (starts with a W today, a P some time in the future) have been in these jobs for eons. (Illinois RAM for instance.)

Different story at the Director level, some very good people.

Thankless jobs for the most part as many reps don't understand the complexities and barriers to successfully obtaining advantaged formulary position and still maintaining a profit in the face of generic competition and a dramatically changing healthcare industry.

 

RAM use to be a decent and important job. Unfortunately, it has become about as valuable as the rep position. Many health plans don't see AMs as most don't have direct contracts (no different than reps in clinics). Why would they, I wouldn't. It is very easy to manage a formulary these days. Very few drugs coming out and lots of generics to use. Pfizer has also switched accts around so much that it is very easy for a HP to just shut their door. Pfe has screwed up this position just the same as every other position. Don't forget the needs assessment interviews with nothing in the bag to answer their needs. Talk about ticking off accounts with that exercise. Pathetic.

 

Let's face it - pharma, in general, ain't what it used to be. The major companies have ruined all the jobs - in both sales and managed markets - by their stupid decisions, constant realignments, arrogance in approaching customers, etc.

While I think MM is still more viable in the short term than sales, I think they are all eventually going to either go away or become a job none of us would want.

 

It is not a great deal of fun for anyone in MM. The reps think they could do it better and Sr management believes it is an easy task. "I could sell it if it were covered". MM and marketing have become little more than an excuse for DMs that are making numbers.

 

This industry sucks in this day and age. RAMS and reps all need to figure out a different career because the good old days are long gone. Neither role is really necessary anymore -- and health plan customers & docs know it. And by the way, when you DO figure out a new career, you will find out just how good you had it while 'working' in pharma. Being a rep or RAM is a walk in the park compared to having a real job. The only people who would disagree with this post are people who have worked their entire career in pharma! I feel sorry for you if you are in that boat because the real working world is brutal!

 

If you are a RAM or account Manager Leave Pfizer

I was in NHO and was a RAM and NAM. I left five years ago and started my own business and it was best decision I ever made. If you have been offered severance leave and do your own thing people. There is a whole new world out there owning your own business. Many of you are talented and hard working and if you worked as hard as business owner as you do now you'd be much better off financially down the road.

Stop drinking the blue kool-aid (it's starting to taste gross anyway)