Getting a medicine to patients
Krupa Parekh works on the practical steps between developing a medicine and making it available to the people who need it. At Roche, her access work considers cost, location and the evidence needed by the organisations that pay for treatment. Trained in pharmacy and public health, she describes these questions from a medicine manufacturer's perspective.
Why a new drug may not be enough
Parekh sees reasons for caution when people question new medicines. Existing treatments may work well, and a small improvement may not justify a more expensive option. Her work involves understanding those decisions, rather than assuming that a scientific discovery will automatically reach patients.
Leaving room to explore
Financial independence helped draw her towards pharmacy, alongside her interest in the subject. At the interview, moving from familiar medical and evidence work into strategy still felt uncomfortable: she was learning to propose new ideas and seek support from senior colleagues. She values her career while wishing she had explored more broadly before specialising. Her advice is to stay curious, ask questions and take time to discover what you enjoy.