Richard Prest – Pharma Technology Expert

Richard Prest is a Principal Consultant at Blue Fin Group, a pharmaceutical management consulting firm, and an accomplished expert in healthcare-releated channel design and optimization, data, and the use and application of technology. Mr. Prest’s experience within the Pharmaceutical industry encompasses a wide variety of responsibilities including strategic assessment and design, product and services marketing as well as software product development for a wide array of healthcare manufacturers and service providers. Richard brings a successful and diverse track record, including re-engineering a number of global supply chains and freight forwarding operations, to solving key issues and challenges faced by healthcare organizations in the 21st century. Richard’s background in business and academia has equipped him to lead several strategic and operational oriented projects for clients across the entire healthcare domain.

1. Question: Bertram says:
   Richard,
   
   There are a number of initiatives in Pharma to develop iPhone apps for physicians. What are your thoughts on iPhone apps for HCPs in the Pharma industry? Do you have experience with efforts to build? How should this be approached?
   Answer: Richard Prest says:

   Bertram,

   Thank you for your question. iPhone, Blackberry and Android apps for HCPs are a logical evolution from proprietary handhelds due to lower barriers to entry. Some interesting questions arise with these new options: how do you create a standard, and ensure security and regulatory compliance if purchasing is decentralized? Can that be achieved with guidelines only? If you’re making the application: how do you promote awareness and adoption? How do you develop an application HCP’s will want to use?

   Regards,
   Richard