pharmacy students demand reform of their curriculum

This Tuesday, November 21, pharmacy students, educational leaders and professionals in the sector are demonstrating together. The mobilizations, planned in 11 cities in France, are organized to obtain a reform of the sixth year of training. The students are demanding in particular an increase in their internship allowances and an increased duration of training.

“Currently, the 6th year of pharmacy consists of six months of internships and alternating courses.explains Nicolas Savic, spokesperson for Anepf (the National Association of Pharmacy Students of France). “We want this period to be extended to a full year of professional immersion and training”, adds the student. Another demand: an increase in internship compensation. “To keep pace with inflation, we want our compensation to be reassessed to 1,250 euros over twelve months. Today we are only at 550 euros over six months», Reports Nicolas Savic.

A transport allowance

Pharmacy students are also asking for support for working in rural areas. “Practicing the pharmacy in the countryside can represent significant additional gasoline costs. We therefore want a transport allowance, for this type of exercise, and a housing allowance for certain under-resourced areas, which are difficult to access.» The students’ last demand concerns recognition of the status of university master for pharmacy professionals. “This is what is done for medical studies, for the moment our internship supervisors cannot teach at the university», deplores the Anepf spokesperson.

A reform requested seven years ago

These demands are not new. “Recommendations for a reform of our 3rd cycle had already been made in 2017, explains Nicolas Savic. They are based on a model designed by a dean, Professor Décaudin, who was commissioned by the government. But seven years later the ministry still refuses to put it in place. We no longer have any other solution than to take to the streets to make ourselves heard.» The spokesperson recognizes, however, that steps forward have already been taken. “Currently, the government has agreed to increase our internship compensation to 1,250 euros, but over nine months instead of the twelve requested,” he explains.

The demonstrations will take place in 10 cities in France: Caen, Limoges, Montpellier, Toulouse, Marseille, Bordeaux, Grenoble, Dijon, Nancy and Nantes. The Parisian mobilization will leave at 2:30 p.m. from Paris Cité University (Paris 6th art.) in the direction of the Ministry of Health. Pharmacy students have not taken to the streets since 2014. At the time, they opposed the opening of the pharmaceutical monopoly to supermarkets.