Access Field Manager – Market Access & Public Health Partnerships

MUMBAI (IN)ONSITEPOSTED: 9/25/2026
PHARMAFull time
HIRING ORGANIZATIONNOVARTISPharmaceuticals / Healthcare
Novartis

ROLE OVERVIEW

Novartis is seeking an Access Field Manager to anchor its state-level market access strategy across priority Indian states and Union Territories. Sitting at the intersection of public health, health economics and commercial strategy, this role is central to Novartis's ambition of expanding timely, reimbursed patient access to its innovative therapy portfolio — spanning cardiovascular, oncology, immunology and rare disease. The position matters because India's access landscape is fragmented: each state operates distinct reimbursement pathways, tender mechanisms and public health priorities. By co-creating solutions with government institutions, payers and health administrators, the Access Field Manager directly influences whether patients actually receive the therapies Novartis develops. For experienced market access or public health professionals, this is a rare opportunity to shape health system policy, build durable government partnerships and translate scientific innovation into measurable real-world patient outcomes.

ROLE DEFINITION & RESPONSIBILITIES

  • •Co-create state-level market access strategies and partnership frameworks with government health departments, public health bodies, payers and health administrators.
  • •Map patient journeys across targeted states to identify reimbursement, affordability and infrastructure barriers, then design interventions that strengthen the health system.
  • •Identify and unlock innovative access channels and alternative funding sources, including public-private partnerships, Managed Entry Agreements and donor-supported programmes.
  • •Develop tactical access plans aligned to the Novartis portfolio, therapeutic priorities and state policy cycles.
  • •Design and deliver disease awareness initiatives, pathway creation programmes and health system strengthening solutions.
  • •Build and sustain relationships with policymakers, government officials, healthcare providers and patient advocacy organisations to support state-level advocacy.
  • •Partner cross-functionally with marketing, communications, medical and public affairs teams to sharpen value proposition messaging and supporting evidence.
  • •Track, measure and report the impact of access initiatives using real-world evidence and defined access KPIs.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Relevant science degree (B.Pharm, M.Pharm, MBBS, BDS, MSc, BSc) from a recognised institution.
  • Master's degree in Business Administration, Public Policy, Communications, Health Economics or equivalent.
  • Minimum 8 years of overall professional experience, with at least 5 years in public health, market access, healthcare strategy or the development sector.
  • Demonstrated experience engaging directly with state governments, public health institutions, payers and healthcare administrators.
  • Proven track record of designing or executing access programmes that improved patient reach, reimbursement or affordability.
  • Strong cross-functional collaboration and senior stakeholder leadership capability.
  • Willingness to travel extensively across assigned states and Union Territories.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • •Familiarity with Ayushman Bharat / PM-JAY and state reimbursement schemes
  • •Drug pricing and procurement policy knowledge (NPPA)
  • •Patient advocacy and NGO partnership experience
  • •Impact measurement frameworks and access KPI dashboards
  • •Therapeutic area exposure in oncology, cardiology or immunology

REQUIRED VERIFIED SKILLS

Market Access & Reimbursement Strategy
Health Economics & HTA
Public Affairs & Policy Advocacy
Government Stakeholder Management
Public-Private Partnerships (PPP)
Managed Entry Agreements
Real-World Evidence (RWE)
Key Account Management
Value Proposition Development
Health System Strengthening

COMPENSATION & REWARDS

Salary: Competitive / Disclosed upon candidate shortlisting

ORGANIZATION CONTEXT & CULTURE

Novartis AG is a Swiss multinational pharmaceutical corporation, one of the largest in the world. It focuses on discovering, developing, manufacturing, and marketing innovative medicines to address significant health needs. The company's portfolio spans various therapeutic areas including oncology, immunology, neuroscience, and cardiovascular diseases.

TEAM SIZE: 76,000+ employees
INDUSTRY: Pharmaceuticals / Healthcare

EXPECTED CAREER ROADMAP

Within 2–3 years, a strong performer can progress to State Access Lead or Head of Market Access for a therapeutic area, owning larger geographies, budgets and national payer relationships. Lateral moves into Public Affairs & Policy, Health Economics & Outcomes Research, or Value & Access strategy roles are common, as are transitions into commercial excellence or new product launch access planning. Beyond Novartis, the skill set is highly portable across innovative pharma multinationals, medical device companies, health-tech and insurtech players, development-sector organisations, multilateral health agencies and healthcare consultancies advising on reimbursement and health system design — a genuinely board-visible career track in India's evolving access ecosystem.

APPLICATION ADVISORY

Anchor your resume around measurable access outcomes: reimbursement wins, number of patients reached, government MoUs signed, or funding unlocked through PPPs. Prepare concrete stories on navigating a state health department, handling a pricing or tender negotiation, and building an HTA-style value narrative. Expect case-style questions on how you would assess and remove an access barrier for a specific Novartis therapy in a low-reimbursement state. Refresh your knowledge of Ayushman Bharat, NPPA pricing and state health budgets, and cite them naturally during interviews.

READY TO SUBMIT?

Verify your capability profile and matching credentials before submitting direct applications.