OBS and MSD: New Business Model for Pakistan in High Tech Industry

OBS, one of the most successful groups in the healthcare business in Pakistan recently entered into a new business model with Merck & Co. Inc., USA for restructuring Merck Sharp & Dohme of Pakistan Ltd (MSD Pakistan). Under the agreement between the two companies, OBS Pakistan which includes manufacturing, sales and marketing operations will continue as it currently exists but under the new ownership and management of OBS. By virtue of this new agreement products of MSD Pakistan continue to be available in the future whereas employment of more than 260 Pakistani citizens is safeguarded. All employees have been given the opportunity to work under new management at their same remuneration packages. This model has enabled MSD Pakistan to continue as a high tech pharmaceutical company. The transfer to and use of international pharmaceutical technology in Pakistan is guaranteed by this long term co-operation with OBS Pakistan. Every patient in Pakistan will therefore be able to benefit from supply with ethical pharmaceutical products of highest quality. By way of this business model MSD has ensured continued presence in Pakistan and is showing high level of commitment to support the pharmaceutical progress in Pakistan. The management of OBS and MSD is very excited about this new prospect. They believe that the combined teams will create exciting growth opportunities for all stake holders and will help in further growth and expansion. Dr. Stefan Oschmann, President of MSD in Europe, Middle East, Africa & Canada says: "We are pleased about the agreement with OBS. We believe that this change of ownership will lead to better opportunities in terms of business as well as opportunities for personal growth for the employees."

OBS is a group of healthcare companies with a strong presence in Pakistan and expansion plans worldwide. The management team of OBS comprises of highly qualified professionals having a long local as well as international experience of working in multi-national companies, at various senior management positions. This Group specializes in strategic business alliances with reputed international firms by providing a full range of high quality professional services encompassing from manufacturing to marketing, distribution to sales of pharmaceutical & consumer health products; hence providing their partners opportunity to extend their businesses in Pakistan. The OBS group operates via its 3 sister concerns – OBS Healthcare (Representing Organon part of Schering Plough Portfolio), the OBS Pharma & MSD Pakistan.

OBS' History from Its Beginnings

OBS Healthcare (Representing Organon part of Schering Plough Portfolio), the oldest division of OBS is operative in Pakistan since 45 years. It is a strategic partner of Organon now part of Schering Plough and holds exclusive manufacturing and marketing rights for Organon only products in Pakistan. From a humble beginning in 1963, OBS HealthCare (Representing Organon part of Schering Plough Portfolio) has now become a name associated with quality medicine throughout Pakistan with strong presence in gynaecology (contraception, infertility and menopause therapy), psychiatry & anesthesiology.

The company has major contributions to health care, recognized and acknowledged by most health professionals in Pakistan. Today OBS Healthcare (Representing Organon part of Schering Plough Portfolio) is playing an instrumental role in population planning by being a major partner with MOPW and NGOs like Greenstar, offering the latest innovative techniques right from the oral pill to the high-tech implants. In infertility treatment, OBS Healthcare (Representing Organon part of Schering Plough Portfolio) has been active since the past 35 years offering the latest and most innovative pro fertility drugs in this field manufactured in biotech facilities. The company has also been one of the oldest players in the Andropause & Menopause market, producing and marketing safe and innovative therapy products to improve the quality of life of both, males and females. These products hold a catalogue of impressive research data behind them and still continue to be the subject of extensive clinical research programs. In anesthesia, OBS Healthcare (formerly Organon Pakistan) has been providing innovative, research based muscle relaxants since 1984, giving the customers, a range of options to choose from. In the last few years Psychiatry & Oncology have become major therapeutic focus for the company whereby it continues to invest considerable resources to expand further in these areas.

OBS: Therapy Areas

After achieving a consistent leading position in most of its specialized therapeutic areas, in 2007 the company via its new sister concern - OBS Pharma entered into first line therapeutic areas like the Anti-infectives, Anti-Ulcerants & Haematinics, whereby the management aimed to provide quality drugs at relatively economical prices. A separate dedicated team had been inducted to focus in these new business segments. In line with the company’s culture and management’s philosophy of internal promotions, the launch of OBS Pharma provided opportunities for numerous young and energetic employees to be promoted to head the newly hired dedicated teams of OBS Pharma. These members had played an important part in the growth and development of OBS Healthcare (Representing Organon part of Schering Plough Portfolio) over the years and the management is fully confident that they will further make a significant contribution in the future as well. The company intends to further extend its product portfolio by introducing high quality international consumer health products in Pakistan through strategic collaborations with multinational companies for which it has already signed agreements with two other European companies.

Future Perspectives

OBS management is confident that the recent acquisition of OBS Pakistan would positively lead the group into a new era of massive growth for all employees. The management is experienced in handling such business models and has previously ensured rapid and seamless transition when it took over the operations of Organon Pakistan in 2006. It had ensured continuity of jobs of all employees along with their same salary packages and benefits.

The management at OBS has always believed their people to be the cornerstone of their success and has strived to earn the trust of those they work with. They constantly strive to meet their mission of maximizing their stakeholders’ value by being a profitable provider of high quality healthcare solutions and meet and exceed their customer needs and expectations. By staying true to these codes of beliefs, the company makes a meaningful difference in all that it does because at OBS we believe that it is all about success, being competitive and creating value. It’s about tomorrow and making sure that the company is fit for the future.