Pharmacy studies

Pharmacy studies course in university faculties. Currently, there are 22 in Spain:

AlavaAlbaceteElche (Alicante)BarcelonaGranadaMadrid-Alcalá de HenaresMadrid-Complutense de MadridMurciaSalamanca,Santiago de CompostelaSevillaLa Laguna (Tenerife)ValenciaAlfonso X El Sabio-Madrid (private), CEU-Valencia (private)CEU-Madrid (private)Francisco de Vitoria-Madrid (private)Navarre (private)San Jorge-Saragossa (private)University Europea-Madrid (private)Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia (private), University Blanquerna - Ramon Llull - Barcelona (private).

Mapa de estudios de farmacia

In compliance with the organic law 4/2007 amending the organic 6/200 universities law  , and as specified in the Royal Decree 1393 / 2007 by establishing the planning of official university education  , the title of "Bachelor in pharmacy" happened to be called and be structured as "Pharmacy degree".

The title of pharmacy graduates to obtained in each one of them is valid throughout the national territory. The titles of the different universities have been verified by national agency for quality assessment and accreditation (ANECA), recognized its official status by the Council of Ministers, including in the "Register of universities, centres and degrees (RUCT)" and published its training plan in the Official Gazette, thus substituting the degree plan.

Degree in pharmacy is included in the branch of "Health Sciences" and its main objective is the training of experts in all aspects related to drugs, in accordance with the European directives relating to the profession of pharmacist. Also provides the necessary training to enable the graduate to the exercise of the pharmaceutical profession as set out in the management of the health professions Act 44/2003  , and in accordance with the provisions in the order 2137 / 2008, which lays down the requirements for the verification of official university qualifications that enable for the exercise of the profession of pharmacist  .

The duration of studies is five years of theoretical and practical education, with a total of 240 credits ECTS (between 25 and 30 hours), including 30 ECTS credits of protective practices in pharmacy or Hospital Pharmacyand end of degree work. In this way, the pharmacists collaborate with management teaching the subject with more workload, protective practices.

Currently register a 13,000 enrolled students, and each year will graduate some 2,200 students.

For years, the General Council of Provincial Pharmacy Chambers has been working together with the Conference of Deans in the development of new curricula to adapt them to the future European space for higher education. Thus, at the beginning of 2006 the National Agency for quality assessment and accreditation (ANECA) published the White paper "degree of Pharmacy"  , result of the work done by the Spanish universities, in collaboration with the General Council, with a view to the adaptation of the official titles of higher education the European requirements.

Professional field

  • Identify, design, obtain, analyze, control, and produce fámacos and drugs, as well as other products and raw materials of health interest of human or veterinary use.
  • Assess the therapeutic effects of substances with pharmacological activity.
  • Learn to apply the scientific method and acquire skills in the management of legislation, sources of information, bibliography, developing protocols and other aspects which are considered necessary for the design and critical evaluation of preclinical and clinical trials.
  • Design, prepare, supply and dispense medicines and other products of health interest.
  • Provide therapeutic advice on pharmacotherapy and diet therapy, as well as in the field of nutritional and food establishments that provide services.
  • Promote the rational use of medicines and healthcare products, as well as acquire basic knowledge in clinical management, economics of health and efficient use of health care resources.
  • Identify, evaluate and assess drugs and drug-related problems, as well as pharmacovigilance activities.
  • Carry out the activities of social and clinical pharmacy, following the cycle of pharmaceutical care.
  • Intervene in the activities of health promotion, prevention of disease, at the individual, family and community level; with a comprehensive and multi-professional view of the health-disease process.
  • Design, apply and evaluate reagents, methods and clinical analytical techniques, knowing the basic fundamentals of clinical analyses and characteristics and content of the opinions of laboratory Diagnostics.
  • To assess the toxicological effects of substances and designs and apply the tests and analysis.
  • Develop analysis hygiene, especially those related to food and the environment.
  • Develop skills of communication and information, both oral and written, to deal with patients and users of the Centre where to play their professional activity. Promote the capabilities of work and collaboration in multidisciplinary teams and those related to other health professionals.
  • Learn about the ethical and deontological principles according to the laws, regulations and administrative provisions governing the professional practice, understanding the ethical implications of health in a context of social transformation.
  • Recognize the limitations and the need to maintain and update the professional competence, giving special importance to the self-learning of new knowledge based on scientific evidence.

The management of the health professions Act 44/2003  , attributed to pharmacists "activities directed at the production, conservation and dispensing of medicines, as well as collaboration in the analytical process, pharmacotherapy and surveillance of public health". This law, also makes reference to the continuing education of practitioners, stating that "health workers carried out Continuing Education throughout their professional life, and regularly credited his professional competence".

According to the White paper of the National Agency for quality assessment and accreditation (ANECA)  the most frequent professional output for pharmacists is the pharmacy. The work of Pharmacy consists of conservation, dispensing, counselling and drug development. This entails a great burden of responsibility, knowledge and monitoring of the legislation established in the connection and an important scientific and technical basis. The pharmacy is, at the same time, a center of education and prevention health, Dietetics and cosmetics. On the other hand, laboratories require a high number of pharmacists: directors or responsible for laboratory, production and quality control, and especially in recent years, to sales and marketing functions. Research is always a way out of difficult access to any graduated; However, the number of pharmaceutical research is very high, compared to other fields. There are also professional opportunities related to orthopedics, catering, environment, radiopharmacy, cosmetics and dermopharmacy.

In Spain, the main fields of exercise for the pharmacist are as follows:

  • Pharmacy
  • Hospital pharmacy
  • Pharmaceutical distribution
  • Pharmaceutical industry
  • Food and nutrition
  • Environmental health
  • Clinical analysis
  • Analysis of drugs and drug
  • Public health
  • Public administration
  • Research and teaching