Abstract
Pharmacies in Bulgaria have a monopoly on the dispensing of medicinal products that are authorized in the Republic of Bulgaria, as well as medical devices, food additives, cosmetics, and sanitary/hygienic articles. Aptekari (pharmacists) act as responsible pharmacists, pharmacy owners, and managers. They follow a five year Masters of Science in Pharmacy (M.Sc. Pharm.) degree course with a six month traineeship. Pomoshnik-farmacevti (assistant pharmacists) follow a three year degree with a six month traineeship. They can prepare medicines and dispense OTC medicines under the supervision of a pharmacist. The first and second year of the M.Sc. Pharm. degree are devoted to chemical sciences, mathematics, botany and medical sciences. Years three and four center on pharmaceutical technology, pharmacology, pharmacognosy, pharmaco-economics, and social pharmacy, while year five focuses on pharmaceutical care, patient counselling, pharmacotherapy, and medical sciences. A six month traineeship finishes the fifth year together with redaction of a master thesis, and the four state examinations with which university studies end. Industrial pharmacy and clinical (hospital) pharmacy practice are integrated disciplines in some Bulgarian higher education institutions such as the Faculty of Pharmacy of the Medical University of Sofia. Pharmacy practice and education in Bulgaria are organized in a fashion very similar to that in most member states of the European Union.
Highlights
Concerning general health in Bulgaria, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that a person born in Bulgaria in 2016 can expect to live 74.6 years on average: 78 years if female and71.2 years if male (Table 1)
WHO estimated that life expectancy at birth for both sexes increased by 3 years over the period of 2000–2012; the WHO regional average increased by 4 years in the same period
The survey looked at the impact of the Bologna agreement on harmonization of the various European degree courses [3], and on the directive of the European Commission on education and training for the sectoral profession of pharmacy [4]. These two documents are somewhat contradictory in that the Bologna agreement proposes a bachelor plus master degree structure for all degrees including pharmacy, whereas as the European directive lays down a five-year “tunnel” degree structure for pharmacy, i.e., a degree course that has no possibility for intermediate entry or exit for example after a three-year bachelor period
Summary
Concerning general health in Bulgaria, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that a person born in Bulgaria in 2016 can expect to live 74.6 years on average: 78 years if female and. All these specific circumstances, together with a more global perspective on new drug discoveries and pharmaceutical technologies and methodologies, are a constant challenge leading to re-evaluation of the role of pharmacists in the Bulgarian health care system. After the third year of such specialization they pass a state examination in a given specialty This possibility is granted by the Ministry of Education to all pharmaceutical students and graduates. The lectures synthesize the knowledge gained during the five-year pharmacy course and blend this with communication skills and the development of the logic of pharmaceutical care.
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