The profession of pharmacist

The Act determines that performing the profession of pharmacist is aimed at the protection of public health.

Pharmacists prepare and produce medical products, distribute medical products and medical devices which are sold in drug stores, hospital pharmaceutical departments and pharmaceutical wholesale stores, and prepare prescribed and pharmaceutical medicines.

Who has the right to practise this profession?

The right to practice this profession may be obtained by persons who have the title of Master of Pharmacy and who have completed at least 5 years of studies at the Faculty of Pharmacy, including at least 6 months of professional training in a pharmacy. Persons who completed 4 years of studies before 1 May 2004, i.e. before Poland became a member of the European Union, have the qualifications to perform this profession.

The right to practise the profession of pharmacist is conferred by the District Pharmaceutical Council, authorised in the field of practising the profession. In order to obtain this right, one must have documents confirming the completion of the appropriate studies and a medical certificate stating the fact that the person’s state of health allows the practising of the profession of pharmacist, a declaration confirming the capacity to perform legal acts and information from the National Record of Convictions on the absence of a criminal record for an intentional crime against life or health, and a statement on enjoying full civil rights.

The professional association of pharmacists is obliged to adopt a resolution on awarding or refusing to award the right to practise the profession not later than within a period of three months from the date of the receipt of all the required documents.

Professional training may be completed in a pharmacy which has obtained a positive assessment from the Voivodeship Pharmaceutical Inspector and the District Pharmaceutical Council responsible for the area in which the pharmacy is located.

What should pharmacists do and what is forbidden

Pharmacists who have obtained the right to practise the profession take an oath in which they promise, for example, to duly, zealously and with due diligence perform their duties, paying attention to patients’ wellness, the requirements of professional ethics and the applicable law.

Pharmacists are obliged to report to the President of the Office for the Registration of Medical Products, Medical Devices and Biocidal Products or the entity responsible for the introduction of medical products onto the market and the monitoring of the undesirable effects of medical products.

A person performing the profession of pharmacist cannot perform the profession of a medical doctor, medical dentist or veterinary surgeon at the same time.

A foreigner – a pharmacist must know the Polish language

The profession of pharmacist may be performed in Poland by people who have obtained equivalent qualifications in other member states of the EU or other non-EU countries, who have obtained a diploma recognised in Poland equivalent to the diploma and the title of Master of Pharmacy issued in Poland.

The Polish Pharmaceutical Chamber issues this right to the citizens of other EU member states.

Foreigners who want to obtain the right to practise the profession of pharmacist in Poland must know the Polish language, in writing and speaking, at the level necessary to perform the profession of pharmacist. Language knowledge is confirmed when passing an examination organised by the Polish Pharmaceutical Chamber.