Marketing Mix of Betage
by
Mirza Asad Ali
(ICK-MS-10-019)
Ziaullah
(ICK-MS-10-006)
2010
Hamdard Institute of Management Sciences Hamdard University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Marketing Mix of Betage
by
Mirza Asad Ali and Ziaullah
A report submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the course of
Principles of Marketing
at
Hamdard Institute of Management Sciences,
Hamdard University
Course Instructor
Mr. Faizullah Jawad
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ACKNOWLEDGMENT
First of all, we would like to thank the Almighty Allah for the completion of this course
project report. We sincerely wish to acknowledge our gratitude towards Mr. Shariq (AM
Sales & Planning) at Hilton Pharma who became a tremendous source of inspiration and
guidance for this course project report. We are also thankful to other members of company
for their help to refine and polish required information regarding this report.
Lastly, we acknowledge the love, prayers, help and great support of our parents, family and
friends, in the completion of this course project report.
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Table of contents
1. Stock Exchange 5
1.1 How Stock Market Works 51.2 Classification of Pharmaceutical Marketing 5
1.2.1 Ethical Marketing / Prescription Based Marketing 51.2.2 OTC Marketing 5
1.3 Launching of the Pharmaceutical Products in Market 61.4 Promotion of Pharmaceutical Product 7
1.5 Product Promotional Pattern 81.6 Pharmaceutical Product Product 9
2. Marketing Mix 10
2.1 Marketing 10
2.2 Marketing Mix 11
2.2.1 Product 11
2.2.2 Price 12
2.2.3 Place 13
2.2.4 Promotion 13
3. Company Profile 14
3.1 Hilton Pharma Distribution Network 14
3.2 Global Affiliation 15
3.3 Some Products of Hilton Pharma 15
3.4 Marketing strategy adopted by Hilton Pharma 16
4. Betage Marketing Mix 17
4.1 Product 17
4.2 Price 18
4.3 Place 21
4.4 Promotion 21
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1. Introduction
1.1 Marketing in Pharmaceutical Industry
Marketing management is the practical application of this process. Pharmaceutical industry
plays an important role in building a strong human capital for the country. The importance
of the pharmaceutical industry in the healthcare sector as well as the global economy has
been increasing rapidly. The pharmaceutical marketing is different from consumer
marketing, as in this the products are usually not chosen by the consumers for there
convenience, but it is given by their consultant on their health complaints. Pharmaceutical
marketing involves selling of drugs and medicines to qualifies person who has the basic
knowledge of medicines Selling, consumer goods are quits easy, and involve less risk, but
pharmaceutical marketing involves selling of medicines that too through a mediator (doctor)
to the consumer.
1.2 Classification of Pharmaceutical Marketing
Pharmaceutical marketing is done in two ways; Ethical Marketing / Prescription based marketing. OTC (Over the counter) marketing.
1.2.1 Ethical Marketing / Prescription Based Marketing
In pharmaceutical marketing, goods (i.e. medicines) are not sold directly to consumer but
through Physicians / doctors who prescribe the drugs to the patient. Physicians are perhaps
the most important players in pharmaceutical sales. They write the prescriptions that
determine which drugs will be used for the patient. Influencing the physician is key to
pharmaceutical sales. Ethical Marketing involves influencing the physician. In Ethical
marketing importance is given to prescription selling; target customer here is physician
who is qualifies enough to decide which medicine is better for his patient.
1.2.2 OTC Marketing
The OTC stands for 'Over the Counter', which means the direct selling from the chemist
counter without any suggestion or the prescription of the physician. The drugs included major
in this category are the, Analgesics (Pain Killers) Antipyretic (For Fever.) Most of the
patients to save physicians fees do this type of treatment but it is ethically wrong because
they don't understands the MOA (Mechanism of Action) and also the side effects of that
drug.
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1.3 Launching of the Pharmaceutical Products in Market
Pharmaceutical marketing is the most challenging in today's world as it is approaching the
millennium. Today's pharmaceutical market is complex and multinational with products
primarily aimed at the maintenance and improvement of people's health. Historically, this
was done with large pharmaceutical sales forces.
(Sales representative) meet to the physician’s regularly providing information and free drug
samples according to the companies policy to the physicians. This is still the approach today.
As the competition is becoming stiff and due to entrance of new players in pharmaceutical
market, making call to physicians is not sufficient. Today each and every pharmaceutical
company is giving importance of the aggressive marketing along with the Productive call in
the doctor’s chamber of the medicinal product.
Aggressive marketing of the means providing the proper services to the doctor, chemist &
also take care of patients. Pharmaceutical marketing is stand on four pillars of, Doctor,
Chemist, Distributor, & also on Patients.
1) Physician
Physician is the person who prescribes the drug and is well aware of the medicinal value of
the product.
2) Retailer
Retailer who makes availability of the prescribing product & also providing the guidance in the
proper selection of doctor and about molecule to promote in doctor chamber.
3) Distributors
Distributor makes the proper availability of stock from company for the proper distribution in
the territory chemist and helps in selection of area or town to be covered.
4) Patients
Patients these are the direct and end users of the products. So these are so important. Company
will provide the medicines at the most economical rates for patient' Conveniences.
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1.4 Promotion of Pharmaceutical Product
The process of convincing the doctor also providing the information to retailer about the
product and doctors promise for product and taking order and give to the stockiest make
product available for the patient convenience is major duty of the medical.
Some of the techniques adopted by Pharma Company's are Steps of promotion of
pharmaceutical product.
Special comp nigh for some product
Targeting the Physicians for particular Molecule
Meeting to the physician.
Sampling.
Giving a regular follow-up providing informative literature.
Arranging Doctor's meet.
Giving gifts as token of gesture.
Advertisement of the product in books, journals and magazines used by
the physicians.
Participate in medical conference.
Conceptual Framework
Before starting the main project it is necessary to yet analytical with certain
concepts so that it helps to get better understanding of the project following are
some of the concept used in the project.
Pharmacy
Pharmacy is defined as "The art of preparing and dispensing medicines and embodies the
knowledge and skill requisite to carry them out in practice."
Drug
According to WHO "A drug is any substance or products used or intended to be used to
modify or explore physiological system or pathological state for the benefits of the
recipient
Bulk Drug
"Bulk drugs are active or inactive ingredients used in the manufacture of finished
dosages drugs products".
Compounding
Compounding is defined as "Produce a dosage form of drug other than that manipulation
that is provided for in the directions for use on the labeling of the approved drug
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product, for example, the reconstitution of a sterile powder with sterile water for
injection.
Pharmacist
The Person licensees and have operating in conformity and dispensing in response to a
valid prescription.
1.5 Product Promotional Pattern
In classification various techniques are used to promote and sell a pharmaceutical such as TV
advertising, distributing broachers, regular visits by medical representative, gift and sample
distribution. An ethical drug first has to be approved and recommended by a physician and
then sold to the patient or consumer, through medical stores, non ethical or patented products
can be directly sold to the consumer through persuasive advertising through various media
such as newspaper, magazine, radio or TV.
It can be sold through point of sale advertising which means poster in the medical shop or
window displays, but the proportion of non ethical or patented products is hardly about 20%
of the total output of drugs and pharmaceutical products.
Hence an indirect method, a round about way of promotion and distribution has been adopted
in pharmaceutical marketing. It can be shown diagrammatically as given under.
1.6 Pharmaceutical Product Product
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Physician / DoctorPhysician / Doctor
Patient/DirectPatient/Direct
Medical
Executive
Medical
Executive
Chemist /Retailer
emist / Retailer
Chemist /Retailer
emist / Retailer
Pharmaceutical Product Product
It has been observed that about 15% to 20% products are sold directly to the institutional
customers such as hospitals, nursing homes, etc and above 80% sale is individual customer on
the basis of prescription given to individual and submitted to the druggist. Hence the primary
and most important task for the medical representative is to pay sales calls to the physicians.
He is expected to pay sales calls of about 12 or more physicians everyday about 25 days a
month. He has to plan his sales calls carefully, for which he has to make a tentative list of
physicians in his history.
Company
Central Depot
District wise Stockiest
Retailers
Patients
2 Marketing Mix
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2.1 Marketing
The term marketing has changed and evolved over a period of time, today marketing is based
around providing continual benefits to the customer, these benefits will be provided and a
transactional exchange will take place.
The Chartered Institute of Marketing define marketing as ‘The management process
responsible for identifying, anticipating and satisfying customer requirements
profitability’
If we look at this definition in more detail Marketing is a management responsibility and
should not be solely left to junior members of staff. Marketing requires co-ordination,
planning, implementation of campaigns and a competent manager(s) with the appropriate
skills to ensure success.
Marketing objectives, goals and targets have to be monitored and met, competitor strategies
analyzed, anticipated and exceeded. Through effective use of market and marketing research
an organization should be able to identify the needs and wants of the customer and try to
delivers benefits that will enhance or add to the customers lifestyle, while at the same time
ensuring that the satisfaction of these needs results in a healthy turnover for the organization.
Philip Kotler defines marketing as ‘satisfying needs and wants through an exchange
process’.
Within this exchange transaction customers will only exchange what they value (money) if
they feel that their needs are being fully satisfied; clearly the greater the benefit provided
the higher transactional value an organization can charge.
Marketing is a social and managerial function that attempts to create, expand and maintain a
collection of customer. A market - focused, or customer focused, organization first determines
what its potential customer desires, and then builds the product or services. Marketing theory
and practice is justified on the belief that the customer uses a product/ service has a perceived
benefit.
2.2 Marketing Mix
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Marketing Mix is a term used to describe the combination of tactics used by a business to
achieve its objectives by marketing its products or services effectively to a particular target
customer group. It is also referred to as the 4 Ps i.e. Product, Price, Promotion and Place.
Why it is important?Businesses need to make sure they are marketing;
The right product to
The right person at
The right price in
The right place and at
The right time
For example, if you manufacture pens, and have decided to target schoolchildren, it would be
more appropriate to market.
Colored ballpoint pens (product)
At a low price (price)
Selling them through newsagents and stationers (place)
And promoting them through point of sale material (promotion) than it would be to
market.
Gold fountain pens (product)
At a high price, including insurance against loss (price)
Selling them through specialist outlets and jewellery stores (place)
And promoting them in glossy magazines and Sunday Supplements (promotion)
2.2.1 Product
Marketing is about identifying, anticipating and satisfying customer needs. You need to
be sure that your products and services continue to meet your customer’s needs.
1. Carry out simple research by asking your customers.
What they think of each product/service
How satisfied are they with the quality
How satisfied are they with any support services you may provide
How effective it is in meeting their needs
How they see their needs changing in the short and long term future
2. Carry out step 1 for each product or service offered
3. Have a system for collecting and analyzing feedback from your customers so that ideas are
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fed into a new product development process that is ongoing.
4. What stage of the product life cycle your products or services have reached. The product life
cycle is one way of looking at how the marketing mix links together.
5. Analyze the profitability of each product/service you offer.
2.2.2 Place
Place is the means of distribution you select depending on the type of product or service you are
marketing.
1. Are the customers for your products and services consumers or businesses?
2. If sell through wholesalers and retailers, remember when price for products that they will
each want their own mark-up to cover their overheads. Will also need to promote your products
and services to all members of the channel. Wholesalers and retailers will have to be persuaded
to stock your product and end customers to buy them.
3. If selling to businesses you will have to cover the cost of a sales force. This can be an
expensive overhead and will again impact on your pricing.
2.2.3 Price
Price generates profit so is an important element of the mix.
1. What your target group of customers will be prepared to pay for your product or service. It is
important not to set the price too low as customers may think there is something wrong with the
product. Equally, if set the price too high, customers may think that it is too expensive for the
benefits offered. Think about how positioned your product in terms of quality. This will help
you to assess how to price it.
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2. What it costs you to produce it. This will show you what you need to charge and not what
you could or should charge. However, if do not calculate what it costs you to produce your
product correctly, the more you sell, the more you will lose. Don’t forget to make an allocation
for costs such as selling which are usually treated as fixed.
3. What your competitors charge. Look at competitors. Web sites, or simply phone them and
ask for a price list or quotation.
2.2.4 Promotion
The promotional mix is made up of 5 elements:
advertising
sales promotion
public relations
direct marketing
personal selling
The combination of tools you use depends on the budget.
3 Company Profile
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Hilton Pharma is a member of the Progressive Group of Companies. Combining the best of
values of entrepreneurship, strong work ethics, and strict compliance with current Good
Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) with wide range of products, Hilton Pharma has emerged as
Pakistan’s largest national pharmaceutical company. We market products under license from
more than a dozen world-renowned research based pharmaceutical companies besides our own
branded generic specialties.
Since its inception, Hilton Pharma has mainly promoted research based pharmaceutical
products. Company’s innovative marketing strategies together with its strong marketing base
have helped our products to be significantly positioned in their respective therapeutic areas.
With regard to manufacturing, Hilton Pharma has always been committed to strict adherence
with international standards of quality and cGMP and has been awarded ISO 14001 and ISO
9001:2000 certifications.
Hilton Pharma has attained this prestigious position through continuous focus on human
resource development, close team work, innovative marketing skills and modern production
facilities. Collaboration with research based world
renowned multinational companies demonstrates Hilton
Pharma’s commitment to bring the best and most
innovative health products in Pakistan.
Company’s Vision
Working towards a healthy future
3.1 Hilton Pharma Distribution Network
One of the major reasons for Hilton Pharma’s success is its
strong nation-wide distribution network; which ensures
uninterrupted availability of Hilton Pharma products in all parts of the country.
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3.2 Global Affiliation
Hilton Pharma enjoys firm partnerships
with many pharmaceutical companies all
over the world. This is in-line with the
company’s strategy of constant expansion
and forging strategic ties.
3.3 Some Products of Hilton Pharma
Deals in Human & Veterinary Products.
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3.4 Marketing strategy adopted by Hilton Pharma
Marketing strategies adopted by Hilton Pharma. Hilton Pharma is leading pharmaceutical
company having a range of product used as medicine. The company has the sound marketing
strategy, which has helped the company to prosper. Since Pharma marketing is indirect
marketing, company has developed strategy to sustain and to prosper in the market.
The main features / characteristics company's marketing strategy mainly includes-
1. Company has framed the strategy keeping III core the prescribers.
2. Company has also framed strategy keeping III mind the retailers also.
3. Company has developed strategy keeping in view the Sales force that is the
important weapon of the company
4. Company has given prime importance to the patient i.e. direct customer by
making economy in the product.
Strategy for Prescribe Physicians
Physicians are the target customers for the company; hence the company is always
trying to develop the strategy so that there is increase in the physicians.
The strategy developed for the doctors mainly includes;
Conduction survey.
Checking the potentiality of the doctors.
Positioning of the product.
Detailing of the products to the doctors.
Sampling
Regular follow-ups
Providing the informative literature.
Organizing Health check-up camps.
Categorizing Doctor according to the prescription support.
Giving Gifts as token for gesture.
Sponsorships.
Hilton always follows this principle strictly. Hilton has its own format of survey,
which has to be filled at chemist retailer counter.
The purpose of this mainly includes.
To check the potentiality of the doctor in terms of patients checked,
prescription generated by the doctors, and rupees value of the prescription.
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To check the liking of the Doctor in particular molecule, combination.
To check the existence of the competitor product & if exist what is the
position of the competitor's product.
Positioning means placement of product in the market by identifying the needs of the
customer. By positioning the product the company is able to more precisely meet the
needs of more customers and consequently to gain a higher overall level of share or
profit from a market. And also positioning is depending on the seasonal
requirements. In Pharma marketing the positioning of the product is done the basis of
the indication in which the drug has the medicinal values and accordingly the
product is promoted. Hilton Pharma also follows the same principle. However they
have been categorized depending upon the benefits of the product in the disease or
disorder.
4. Betage Marketing Mix
4.1 Product
Introduction about Betage
A balanced combination of 5 highly
effective free radical scavengers
Beta carotene 9.000 mg
Ascorbic acid 500.000 mg
AlphaTocopherol 100.000 mg
Optizinc 10.000 mg
Selenium 0.020 mg
Betage is a highly balanced
combination of strong anti – oxidants.
Protects the body tissues from damaging reactions
Prevents cancer & cardiovascular diseases
Improves general health & immune function
Prevents premature aging
Prevents Zinc & other vitamins (A, C & E) deficiency during pregnancy.
Administration & Dosage
Orally: 1 tab, once daily or as directed by the physician.
PackagingPage 17 of 21
The packaging includes:
Company logo to improve credibility
The brand slogan
Description of the product itself
The manufacturing and expiry date
Price with or without tax
The company address
Warning
Direction
4.2 Price
Product Registration
The very first thing that happen to Pharma product life cycle is the researched molecule is registered in the Ministry of Health (MOH). Dossier along with the molecular research, raw material availability, product manufacturing or procurement report, costing and suggestive prices are provided to Ministry of Health. After complete research and viability analysis, MOH registered the product for a Pharma Company.
Price Determination
On the basis of costing provided with dossier (including the raw material cost and manufacturing cost), Ministry of Health determines the price of the product registered. The prices determined are MRP (market retail price) and TP (Trade Price).
Price Ceiling determination
The price determined and registered by the Ministry of Health, is the ceiling price or the maximum price on which the company can sell the product, until and unless company attains a price increase from the ministry.
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MRP – TP – DP
Price in Pharmaceutical industry is divided into 3 major portions. MRP (market retail price) is the price that is mentioned on the product pack, it is then reduced by the percentage margin that is provided to the retailers, which drives to TP (Trade Price). TP (Trade Price) is the price on which the distributor sells the products in the market, wholesale or retailers. Company sells the product on DP (Distributor Price).
Product Discount
Product discounts are provided to individuals, institutions Direct or Institutional Distributors. Betage commercial customers are more promising institutional.
Volume DiscountOn Betage the distributor is being provided 2% more discount for purchases above 100 packs.
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Competitive Prices
BrandsPrices TP April 2010
SURBEX Z - AB& 89.72GONADIL-F - GTZ 466.65REVITALE MULTI - GSK 192.51POLYBION Z - M/M 63.75ZINCAT - AT3 89EPIVITE - STF 231.21PERFECTIL - VTB 270BETAGE - HL. 132.98
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4.3 Place
Target market for Betage involves any age of people.
Hilton Pharma has network of 500 sales representatives dealing with 52 distributors in no of towns.
Follows following distribution channels;
Selling to wholesalers who will sell to retail outlets who will sell on to the consumer
Selling direct to retail outlets
Selling direct to the customer
4.4 Promotion
Promotion activity regarding Betage involves distributing broachers, regular visits by medical representative, gift and sample distribution.
Other ways include point of sale advertising by placing poster in the medical shop or
window displays.
Arranging free clinics or camps in which they introduce their product, may also arrange
some awareness workshops for promotion.
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