Written by Brian O’Toole, HTA Writing Lead
Last year I changed jobs.
It was a major life decision that took time to make as it meant leaving the comfort and familiarity of academia for the hustle and bustle of a market access consultancy.
For the past decade I’ve worked as a health economist for both the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC), and more recently the University of Exeter as a member of an evidence assessment group (EAG). To date I’ve mostly been involved in critiquing manufacturer cost-effectiveness evidence, economic models, and value propositions for medicines seeking reimbursement on the National Health Service (NHS). When people asked what I did for a living I would say that I’m a kind of forensic detective, employed to ensure the NHS gets value for money.
My new role at Source Health Economics is a blend of narrative and numeracy. As a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Writing Lead, I communicate clinical and economic data, and convey key value messages on behalf of the pharmaceutical company. The role involves optimising the content of submission documents to ensure quality so that it has the maximum chance of receiving a positive recommendation from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), SMC, National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE), or any other HTA body. Thankfully, my former role, which involved communicating complex health economic concepts to decision makers (both written and verbally), has primed me to take full advantage of this exciting new opportunity.
However, before joining Source, I had some personal reservations and doubts.
Is it wise to give up the security and stability of university life for the relentless pace of industry?
Would I fit into the corporate culture?
These concerns abated quickly as I got to know the team. Source has a wonderful team of talented and passionate people with a diverse range of skills and expertise. The pace has undoubtedly been fast, but when you’re surrounded by a supportive team, it’s entirely manageable. Colleagues have been more than happy to answer my pesky emails about software systems, pitch in on project related queries, and walk me through company processes. It’s also reassuring to know that you’ve joined an incredibly accomplished and experienced team of people. The team at Source – consisting of medical writers, health economists, literature review analysts, statisticians, and project managers – has decades of market access experience, providing unrivalled technical capabilities as well as strategic perspectives.
So, to those considering moving to a market access consulting company, I would say go for it. But choose an organisation with an excellent work culture and supportive team. They make all the difference!
If you’re considering your next career move or simply interested in finding out more about our market access services, please get in touch!
