• Could you explain us your background  & where you coming from ?

I’m a software developer and I have a degree in Computer Science. As a professional, I’ve been working mostly for consultancy companies, with some software houses in between. At the same time, I’ve been working on some freelance projects, mostly for pharma industry.

• Could you please let us know more about your expertise, your day-to-day activity as a freelancer in this expertise ?

My focus is on web based applications and these tend to help organisations to migrate from heavy excel datasheets to a much more functional, reliable and user friendly interfaces. My freelance projects have been mostly related to Pharmacovigilance, QA, Business deals tracking and Portfolio management (europe). I like to stay informed on EMA’s activities related to IT – IDMP Standards, communication gateways (ex.: ICS), …

• Why did you decide to become a freelancer ?

The closer contact to clients and their problems, together with the chance to do a bit more meaningful work, with different technologies, and in different contexts. And also the flexibility associated to it, of course. 

• What are the pros & cons  being a freelancer ?

Pros: diversity on projects and flexibility. Cons: instability, time taken by decision makers. 

• What would you say to  someone hesitating becoming a healthcare industry freelancer ?

Take it slow. Try to start it as something on the side, if possible. That will allow you to make better informed decisions overtime and prevent jumping straight into the unknown. 

• What is your feeling around healthcare  Clients openness  to freelancers ?

It is definitely not the best – it tends to be a very closed industry, hard for new joiners. The demanding regulation around it, although necessary, does not help breaking this either, and organisations tend to prefer well established companies to address their needs instead. This may very well be, of course, just my perception of it.

• What do you think about initiative like pharmatch.co ?

I think it is great. But I guess it takes time… to gain traction and build notoriety.

• How do you see  freelancing in healthcare industry in the near future ?

Not sure. Hopefully we will start seeing a bit more relaxed – but confident – posture from the industry towards this reality. It is important that we start being seen (a bit more broadly) as perfectly valid partners for business, as something to always consider and include in the set of options.