Critical Strategies to Develop Strong Medical Information Groups

However, the Medical Affairs function needs to ensure that its Medical Information activities are aligned with compliance requirements owing to stringent regulations in the industry.

Best Practices, LLC undertook benchmarking research to identify critical requirements for the Medical Affairs function to create successful Medical Information groups. The study provides benchmarks around the structure and leadership of Medical Information groups, and alignment of information activities with compliance requirements. It also delivers benchmarks around the required resource levels to create strong Medical Information groups and ways for efficient internal collaboration.

Study Snapshot

Best Practices, LLC engaged 26 executives from 25 leading biopharmaceutical companies for this benchmarking research. Three high-level Medical Information executives were interviewed to capture qualitative insights.

Eleven research participants represented large biopharmaceutical organizations, while 8 participants represented medium companies and the remaining benchmark class emerged from small companies.

Key Findings


· Current Structure and Leadership:

Ø Medical Information groups structures are usually either “Centralized or Hybrid” organizations. 84% of participants’ Medical Information groups have either centralized or hybrid structure.

Ø 69% of the Medical Information groups in the study have director-level leadership. Having high-level leaders illustrates the importance of Medical Information groups.

• Current Structure and Leadership Level of the Medical Information Group at Participating Companies
• Compliance Guidelines and Rules Utilized for Medical Information Activities
• Types of Information Shared with Payers and Providers for the Purposes of Compliance
• Medical Information Activities Involvement Score
• Case Example: Developing a Self-Service Portal for Health Care Providers (HCPs)
• Importance of Listed Medical Information Activities
• Collaboration of Medical Affairs and Legal Departments: Legal Department's Role in Reviewing the Medical Information Letters
• Key Challenges Posed by Social Media Channel
• Medical Information Groups’ Internal Collaboration Scores
• Communication to Field-Based Teams
• Importance of Partnerships with different Functions for the Medical Information Group
• Three Important Action Items for Clear Medical Information Flow
• Challenges faced by the Medical Information Group
• Drivers of Documentation Time
• Important Capabilities for Medical Information Groups
• Sales Revenue per Medical Information FTE
• Medical Information Budget as a Percentage of Medical Affairs Spend
• Medical Information FTE as a Percentage of Medical Affairs FTE