The University explores launching pharmacy education in Oulu
Pharmacy education would have a significant impact on the security of regional pharmaceutical services, the availability of medicines and patient safety. The programme would complement the University of Oulu’s strong concentration of expertise in medicine, biomedicine and health technology, while creating new opportunities for research, innovation and collaboration with pharmaceutical companies.
In Finland, pharmacy education is currently provided by the University of Helsinki, the University of Eastern Finland and Åbo Akademi University. Nearly 70 per cent of pharmacies in Finland have suffered from labour shortages, and half report that the shortage is continuous. The situation is particularly challenging in Northern Finland, where pharmacy education is not currently available.
“Pharmacy education based in Oulu would strengthen the knowledge base of pharmaceutical services across Finland. At the same time, it would support the vitality of the region, research activities and the availability of healthcare services,” says Jukka Hakkola, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Oulu.
According to the plan, 80 pharmacy students and 20 Master of Science in Pharmacy students would begin their studies in Oulu each year. Launching the programme would require a total of approximately five million euros in additional funding over the first five years, as well as the recruitment of new teachers and researchers in the field of pharmacy. Education for pharmacists and Master of Science in Pharmacy graduates could begin in Oulu in the 2028–2029 academic year.
The University of Oulu will open discussions with the Ministry of Education and Culture on expanding the University’s educational responsibility. At the same time, the University will seek support from public funders, regional actors and the pharmaceutical sector to launch the programme.
The Northern Finland Association of Pharmacy Owners (Pohjolan Apteekkariyhdistys) has actively promoted the launch of pharmacy education at the University of Oulu as a solution to the serious shortage of pharmacists in the northern region. The launch of pharmacy education has also been proposed by the City of Oulu, the Council of Oulu Region, the Regional Council of Kainuu and the wellbeing services counties of North Ostrobothnia, Lapland and Kainuu in their joint statement in 2024.