Why accreditation of Medical Affairs professionals matters
Pharmaceutical companies play a critical role in the healthcare ecosystem. They provide financial support and supervision of complex clinical trials to ensure the safety and effectiveness of drugs, devices and diagnostics. According to the Current Medical Research and Opinion journal, 65% of scientific research is funded by the pharmaceutical industry.
65%PubMed
of scientific research is funded by the pharmaceutical industry.
Given the industry's financial incentives to shepherd pharmaceutical products through the entire process—from development to clinical trials to doctors' prescription pads—it is the responsibility of medical and scientific professionals to deliver information on emerging medications to healthcare providers (HCPs) and patients in a competent, ethical fashion.
Unlike the finance, legal and medical industries—which require certification from their accrediting bodies—the pharma industry doesn't yet demand such a credential. The recent opioid crisis and the current COVID-19 pandemic, however, have demonstrated a serious need to implement standardized certification for all Medical Affairs professionals.
Put simply, the pharmaceutical industry is in dire need of a transformation.
An industry-standard certification will propel pharma to the pinnacle of ethical practices, compliance excellence, and public trust.
Protecting patient health is at the core of the ACMA's mission. The ACMA actively encourages the pharmaceutical industry to certify all of its Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs) and Medical Affairs team members through the Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist (BCMAS) program.
Certified medical affairs professionals can be trusted to provide credible decision support for healthcare providers to make better treatment decisions. These treatments will lead to better overall patient health.
Medical affairs and MSL professionals make important decisions everyday that indirectly impact patient lives. Good decisions need to be both ethical and effective. A decision that is ethically intended yet not effective due to lack of competency can have a negative effect This is why Board Certification for MSLs and Medical Affairs professionals is so important.
Board Certification is a significant achievement for individuals and for organizations alike.
Qualities of Board Certified Professionals:
Highly skilled and credible
Experts who have met rigorous criteria
Consistently meeting a higher standard
Capabilities of BCMAS Professionals:
Knowledge of the latest advancements relevant to the Medical Science Liaison (MSL) or medical affairs specialty
Participate in training & assessment beyond what their peers do
Commitment to continuous improvement in their profession
Certification promotes impartiality in clinical trial design, oversight, conclusions, and reporting of results
Certification provides a minimum level of competency that every MSL and/or Medical Affairs professional must meet to excel in their roles
Certification ensures compliant and ethical interactions with HCPs, patient advocacy groups, and industry regulators
Certification isn's a band-aid solution-- it's the thread that binds the pharma industry together and ensures a standard benchmark of excellence