SWEDEN
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Pharmacist is a regulated profession in Sweden. There are different rules for applying for registration depending on from which country you have a degree.
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Working as a pharmacist in Sweden
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Pharmacists work in the pharmaceutical industry, at pharmacies, and within government agencies such as the Medical Products Agency (Läkemedelsverket). You could also work in hospitals, councils and universities. In Sweden there are several large pharmacy chains. Pharmacists advise customers and dispense medications.
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At hospitals, pharmacists work alongside other professions but with a total focus on medicines. Typical tasks that a pharmacist deals with are safety routines, the preparation of patient individualized prescriptions or drugs logistics. Pharmacists, usually those with a PhD, also work as teachers in pharmaceutical training.
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In the pharmaceutical industry, pharmacists work as researchers, with clinical trials of new drugs, drug production, and the registration of medicines.
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Pharmacist training in Sweden?
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Training to become a pharmacist takes five years at a university and follows the Directive 2005/36/EG. The program provides education in chemistry, life sciences and pharmacy.
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Pharmacists need proof of identification to get work in pharmacies
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Pharmacist is a regulated profession within healthcare in Sweden. This means that you must have a registration from the National Board of Health and Welfare to work as a pharmacist at a pharmacy, visit link- http://www.socialstyrelsen.se/english
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How is the assessment/evaluation of your education carried out in Sweden?
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You apply for registration with the National Board of Health and Welfare. It costs nothing to apply for registration.
There are different rules for applying for registration if you have a degree from an EU country, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland, or if you have a degree from any other country.
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If you have a pharmacy education from a country not in the EU, you must first be able to speak the Swedish language well. Then you need to:
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1. Apply for your education to be assessed.
2. Pass a Swedish language test.
3. Pass a pharmacology test.
4. Take and pass courses in social pharmacy and pharmacotherapy.
5. Complete an internship at a pharmacy while reading the above courses.
6. Apply for registration.
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Recognition of foreign degrees for purposes other than studies
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The Swedish Council for Higher Education (Universitets- och högskolerådet, UHR) is responsible for the recognition of international qualifications. UHR can assess international post-secondary vocational qualifications to assist those living in Sweden who need their qualifications recognized in order to find work in Sweden.
If you are a qualified pharmacist from within the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland you need to fill in an application form. The form is available on the National Board of Health and Welfare website, visit link- http://www.socialstyrelsen.se/english.
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What support can you get from Saco?
Most of Sweden's pharmacists and prescriptionists are members of the Swedish Pharmacists Association (Sveriges Farmaceuter- www.sverigesfarmaceuter.se ). Its members work in pharmacies, in the pharmaceutical industry, government agencies and within the healthcare system.
You can also become a member if you are a qualified pharmacist from another country or if you are studying for a pharmaceutical degree at a university in Sweden.
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Swedish Pharmacists Association supports you at work. You can always contact the Association if you have any questions about your job. Salary statistics available for members at the Swedish Pharmacists Association website.