Pfizer inducts 50 rural women into fifth batch of PATs programme
More than 50 young women from rural areas of North Andhra have been inducted into the fifth batch of Pfizer Healthcare India Private Limited’s Pfizer Autonomous Teams (PATs) programme, an industry-academia initiative that combines a three-year B.Sc. Chemistry degree with hands-on experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
The batch was inaugurated at GITAM Deemed to be University here on Wednesday. Pfizer has partnered with GITAM to offer a customised B.Sc. Chemistry programme, along with practical exposure to various functions of pharmaceutical manufacturing.
The initiative seeks to increase the representation of women in the pharmaceutical workforce and build a pool of locally trained talent for future roles in the industry.
For the latest batch, Pfizer interviewed around 500 women with intermediate-level education from 15 rural villages across North Andhra. The selected students have an average age of 19 years, and 77% of them are from the local area. According to the company, around 350 women have joined Pfizer’s workforce through the programme over the past four years.
GITAM Registrar D. Gunasekharan, the chief guest, said that greater access to higher education, coupled with opportunities created through industry partnerships, could help improve the socio-economic prospects of rural women.
Site Lead of Pfizer Global Supply (PGS), Vizag, Katta Ravi Chandar said the programme enabled students to gain three years of manufacturing experience while pursuing their degree. The training covered various departments and functions involved in pharmaceutical manufacturing, he said.
Director, People Experience, Pfizer Global Supply India, Ravi Kiran Teegala said the programme was developed through a structured process involving diagnostic studies, a four-stage selection procedure, training and skill development.
GITAM School of Science Director Chandu Kavitha and Chemistry Department Head N.V.S. Venugopal urged Pfizer to extend the initiative to postgraduate programmes to create more career opportunities for women in science and the pharmaceutical sector.
Programme coordinators D. Alice Rinky Robert and G. Ravi Kumar, along with Pfizer officials and university representatives, were present.