Medical writing is an esteemed profession for those with in-depth knowledge of medicine and science, and also share a great passion and love for writing and creativity. In this blog, we will discuss all the career aspects of the Medical Writing profession.

What is Medical Writing?

Medical Writing is a process of communicating Medical information or Scientific Data to a variety of audiences in a variety of formats that every human being can understand. Medical Writing involves writing Scientific documents of different types which include Regulatory and Research-related documents, drug-related educational and promotional literature, data on new diseases, publication articles like abstracts and journal manuscripts, content for healthcare websites, health-related magazines or news articles. The Medical Writing profession should know about both writing and science, combining a writer’s creative talent with the rigour and detail of research and the scientific process. 

What are the Different Types of Medical Writing?

The following are the different types of Medical Writing.

  1. Regulatory Writing

In this field, Medical Writers work in Regulatory Affairs and are involved in creating documents about the safety and efficacy of pharmaceutical products. These include clinical study reports, safety updates, application submission dossiers, and post-marketing documentation. Regulatory Writers work at Clinical Research Organisations, biotech and pharmaceutical companies.

  1. Medical Educational Writer

This Profession creates educational content such as articles, textbooks, etc. It is a broad-spectrum field that can work for educational boards, institutes, and pharmaceutical companies to train their employees.

  1. Scientific Writing

In this field, professionals help as communicators and work with physicians and healthcare research workers to write, edit or translate their manuscripts, research work papers and other documents. Scientific Medical Writers also known as Medical Communicators in the scientific publications area can make their career in Medical Writing by working at academic or healthcare institutions or pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical device companies.

  1. Medical Journalism

In this field, writers make awareness and inform the general public about discoveries in the healthcare field, a new drug or medical device discovered with the help of articles, health blogs and public health materials.

  1. Medical Marketing

Professionals create various marketing materials and strategies to promote drugs, medical devices and treatment therapies. They create materials such as company monographs, Newsletters for healthcare providers etc. Medical writers creating these materials work at pharma, biotech, and medical device companies or at medical communications firms. 

  1. Health Communication

Medical writers and professionals in the health communication field write and edit a variety of materials for lay audiences, including patient education, decision aids, public health communication, website content, medical/health news, news releases, and public relations/communications. There are a variety of settings for working in the health communication area, including healthcare institutions, public health offices, government agencies, publishers, and media outlets.

  1. Grant Writing

In this field, Medical Writers prepare and draft papers and documents such as research grant proposals and funding applications to secure funding for clinical research or healthcare projects. Professionals in this field can work from academic and healthcare institutions to private foundations, patient advocacy groups, and professional associations.

Scope of Medical Writing

The Medical Writing market in India is expected to reach a projected revenue of US$ 750.5 million by 2030. A compound annual growth rate of 12.8% is expected of India's Medical Writing market from 2024 to 2030. In terms of segment, Medical Writing was the largest revenue-generating type in 2023.

With such an increase in demand, Medical writing is the best choice for Healthcare professionals trying to transition their career in a non-clinical career path. CareerInMedical writing offers various perks such as:

  • Great career opportunities globally
  • Better work-life balance
  • Various Work from home and freelance career opportunities
  • Great chances of career growth with better salary packages
  • Work that makes an impact on the world.
  • Stable Career at top MNCs

Who Hires Medical Writers?

Medical writers can find positions with a variety of employers, reaching a multitude of audiences with different communication needs and styles. These may include

  • Government agencies
  • Authors or investigators
  • Biotechnology companies
  • Medical education companies
  • Medical schools or universities
  • Clinical or contract research organizations (CROs)
  • Pharmaceutical companies
  • Trade journals for healthcare professionals
  • Communications, marketing, or advertising agencies
  • Associations and professional healthcare societies
  • Healthcare organizations or providers
  • Medical book publishers
  • Medical device companies
  • News outlets for health/medical news
  • Peer-reviewed medical journals

How to Become a Medical Writer?

Medical Writers come from all educational backgrounds in the science field but should have in-depth knowledge of medicine with good knowledge of grammar and writing. Certificates and certifications are additional credentials that demonstrate your knowledge and proficiency in the Medical Writing field. 

And if you are someone looking for a career transition in Medical Writing, why not start with the best? CareerInPharm India's best Clinical Research institutes offer great certification courses in Medical Writing. Being awarded the Best Pharma Training Institute for 2024 by Brand Impact and International Awards for Education Excellence 2024, we focus on making our students confident and job-ready and supporting them to achieve their career goals.

Here is all you need to know about CareerInPharma’s Medical Writing certification program.

  • Module 1: (Demo Class): Orientation and Introduction to Scientific Medical Writing (SMW)
  • Module 2: Original Research Article Writing
  • Module 3: Case Report or Case Series Writing
  • Module 4: Review Article Writing
  • Module 5: Search Strategy for Writing Articles – Essential Details, Guidelines, and Standards
  • Module 6: Abstract Writing, Ethical Considerations, Use of AI, and Expectations from Authors, Journals, and Editorial Teams
  • Module 7: Reference Styles, Search Techniques, Writing Tools, and Plagiarism Considerations
  • Module 8: Book Chapter Writing, Book Writing, Publication Ethics, Client Acquisition, and Basic Work Details
  • Module 9: Medico Marketing-Monograph Writing
  • Module 10: Creating a Medical Writing Portfolio
  • Module 11: Resume Building for Medical Writing Careers
  • Module 12: Networking and Job Search Strategies for Medical Writing

With the help of these specially curated Medical Writing modules by industry experts, you can face all the challenges with confidence in the pharma industry. This certification course is well-detailed and industry-oriented.

Key Highlights of the Medical Writing Certification Program

  • Get job ready in just 3 months
  • Online classes with live Q&A sessions.
  • Pre-recorded lectures provided
  • Specially crafted resumes from industry experts
  • LinkedIn and Naukri.com profile optimization from experts
  • Network building with industry experts
  • 100% Placement Assistance till you achieve your goal

Overview

Medical Writing is both a science and an art. It requires an understanding of medical science and an aptitude for writing. In addition, a thorough knowledge of specific requirements for different types of medical documents, and keeping up to date with the relevant guidelines is a must. The demand for Medical Writing has grown steadily over the years. The pharmaceutical and healthcare industry offers numerous great job opportunities for Medical Writers. Graduates and postgraduates in Medicine and life sciences who have the right skills and aptitude can consider taking up medical writing as a full-time profession and have a stable career with a better work-life balance.

The following are the most common professional areas of medical writing. 

  1. Regulatory writing: Medical writers in this professional area help write and edit documents required by regulatory agencies, including the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in the approval process for drugs, biologic agents, and medical devices. Regulatory writers work at pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device companies as well as contract research organisations (CROs).



  2. Scientific publications: Medical communicators work with physicians and other researchers to write and edit manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals as well as posters, abstracts, and oral presentations for medical conferences. Other medical communicators create summaries of conference sessions and news and feature articles for professional audiences. Medical communicators in the scientific publications area may work at academic or healthcare institutions or pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical device companies.



  3. Health communication: Medical writers in health communication write and edit an array of materials for lay audiences, including patient education, decision aids, public health communication, website content, medical/health news, news releases, and public relations/communications. There are a variety of settings for working in the health communication area, including healthcare institutions, public health offices, government agencies, publishers, and media outlets.



  4. Continuing education for professionals: Medical communicators create the various documents needed to develop continuing education (CE) activities for physicians and other health care professionals. These documents include needs assessments, slide sets, and outcomes analyses. Other medical communicators write training materials for staff in pharmaceutical and biotech settings. Medical communicators who develop these documents work at medical education companies, academic institutions or health care centres, or at pharma and biotech companies.



  5. Promotional writing: Medical communicators — sometimes called medical copywriters or marketing writers — create a variety of materials to promote drugs, interventions, or medical devices. These materials include marketing and advertising pieces that promote diagnostic or therapeutic products. Medical communicators creating these materials work at pharma, biotech, and medical device companies or at medical communications firms. Other medical communicators write press releases and strategic communications in healthcare institutions and organizations and corporate settings.



  6. Grant writing: Medical communicators write and edit grant proposals for funding of scientific research. The settings range from academic and healthcare institutions to private foundations, patient advocacy groups, and professional associations.