. 2019 Jul 10;7(3):87. doi: 10.3390/pharmacy7030087

Table 11.

Ways in which elements of the European Commission (EC) directive impacts on pharmacy education and training in Estonia.

The Directive States	How Does/Will This Directive Statement Affect Pharmacy Education and Training?
“Evidence of formal qualifications as a pharmacist shall attest to training of at least five years’ duration ...” “ .. four years of full-time theoretical and practical training at a university or at a higher institute of a level recognised as equivalent, or under the supervision of a university;” “…six-month traineeship in a pharmacy which is open to the public or in a hospital, under the supervision of that hospital’s pharmaceutical department.” “The balance between theoretical and practical training shall, in respect of each subject, give sufficient importance to theory to maintain the university character of the training”	The pharmacy curriculum is 5 years and this requirement is fulfilled. Our students have 4 years theoretical and practical training at the university and this requirement is fulfilled. Our students perform the six-month traineeship. At least three months in a community pharmacy and the remaining three months at a community or hospital pharmacy. From the point of view of the university, it is important to focus on theoretical knowledge in order to prepare the students for further studies (Ph.D.). The skilful combination of theory linked to practice is a very important tool in a quality teaching process.

The Directive States

How Does/Will This Directive Statement Affect Pharmacy Education and Training?

“Evidence of formal qualifications as a pharmacist shall attest to training of
at least five years’ duration ...”
“ .. four years of full-time theoretical and practical training at a university or at a higher institute of a level recognised as equivalent, or under the supervision of a university;”
“…six-month traineeship in a pharmacy which is open to the public or in a hospital, under the supervision of that hospital’s pharmaceutical department.”
“The balance between theoretical and practical training shall, in respect of each subject, give sufficient importance to theory to maintain the university character of the training”

The pharmacy curriculum is 5 years and this requirement is fulfilled.
Our students have 4 years theoretical and practical training at the university and this requirement is fulfilled.
Our students perform the six-month traineeship. At least three months in a community pharmacy and the remaining three months at a community or hospital pharmacy.
From the point of view of the university, it is important to focus on theoretical knowledge in order to prepare the students for further studies (Ph.D.).
The skilful combination of theory linked to practice is a very important tool in a quality teaching process.