Pharmacists in the EU are covered by profession-specific Directives designed to ensure harmonisation of minimum standards both of education and in-service training prior to authorisation to practise. No other health professionals have so much of their education devoted to medicinal products. Citizens of all EU Member States can therefore be confident that before a pharmacist is permitted to practise in in their country, the necessary studies have been successfully completed and their Community pharmacist is a true expert on medicines.

For the benefit of the public, all pharmacists practise within strict Codes of Ethics and Professional Standards and have a personal commitment to maintaining  professional competence throughout their working lives, through continuing professional development. EU citizens can be confident too that professional regulatory controls in all Member States are designed to ensure their protection, through action being taken to ensure that all pharmacists authorised to practise, maintain the required high quality in the professional services they provide.

PGEU contributed significantly to the deliberations leading to the new Directive on Recognition of Professional Qualification (Directive 2005/36/EC). The Group takes a keen interest in the co-ordinated development of the education and training of pharmacists to meet modern needs and to facilitate the mobility of professionals and is pleased that this is likely to be easier to achieve under the new Directive than within the previous legislative framework. Continuing Professional Development for practising pharmacists is also recognised by the PGEU to be vitally important, as is the development of post-graduate specialisations in sectors of pharmacy practice. Both will continue to be promoted by the Group.