Rapid learning and adaptability in adopting practices, whether technical or supportive, have become essential for resilience and competitiveness, says Oktal Pharma Belgrade General Manager Aleksandra Čolić
Here we discuss with the Oktal Pharma Belgrade GM the importance of responsible public communication in educating the public on health and product safety, along with product and brand development strategies.
Oktal Pharma Belgrade has been among the leading representation companies on the Serbian market for two decades. Who are your partners and how extensive is your product portfolio?
— More than 40 brands have been developed under our umbrella and are still evolving. These include top-quality products from prominent pharmaceutical manufacturers in Europe, the U.S. and South Korea.
Our portfolio features over 1,000 items that vary in registration status, pharmaceutical form, mechanism of action, therapeutic field and philosophy.
In terms of product development, our teams focus on presenting and preserving each brand’s core philosophy on the local market by creating innovative solutions that meet the highest standards of medicine and pharmacy. Success is measured foremost on the basis of patient satisfaction, then brand recognition and longevity.
Rapid learning and adaptability in adopting practices, whether technical or supportive, have become essential for resilience and competitiveness
Our strategies are diverse—from a systematic approach to the healthcare system to increase the use of biosimilars, opening up the potential for more patients to receive treatment or introducing innovative therapies, to combined marketing techniques aimed at enhancing the knowledge of healthcare professionals and end-users on using quality cosmetics, selecting the right probiotic, choosing intimate care products or intraocular lenses to correct vision.
One of the imperatives of modern pharmacy is responsible communication with the public regarding health education and product safety. Does this include the professional promotion service that you tailor to each partner’s individual requirements?
— Our partners’ requirements are just the starting point. These are essential guidelines that we align with our market characteristics and local regulations. By merging these elements with knowledge and creativity, we create powerful messages that healthcare professionals hear, combine with their experience, and use actively in their daily practice to maintain or improve the health of those who seek their advice and assistance. Oktal’s school of professional promotion enjoys high trust among doctors and pharmacists, precisely because it is based on transparent communication, with verified information, proven efficacy and safety as its cornerstones.
To what extent does being part of the regional Oktal Pharma Group help you maintain a competitive edge in the region and plan your business growth and expansion?
— The world is changing ever faster, due to digital communication and the creation and collection of diverse data. Much of the information or strategies that are important today will be irrelevant by this time next year, while the list of skills and knowledge required by individuals and companies continues to grow.
When you form part of a company that operates on eight different markets, you have the opportunity to exchange knowledge and adopt extensive and successful practices in a shorter period than if you developed them alone. Rapid learning and flexibility in adopting practices, whether technical or supportive, have become vital for resilience and competitiveness. The long-term goals set at the group level by the parent company provide stability in the development process and in selecting investments.