LEGAL AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF PHARMACY EDUCATION IN UKRAINE (1991–EARLY 21ST CENTURY)

Abstract

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the formation and development of the legal and regulatory framework governing pharmaceutical education in Ukraine within the context of socio-political transformations, higher education reform, and integration processes in the healthcare sector during the 1990s and early 21st century.
The role of key legislative acts is examined, in particular the Laws of Ukraine “On Education” (1991, 2017), “On Higher Education” (2002, 2014), as well as regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, and the Ministry of Health of Ukraine.
Particular attention is paid to the unification and standardization of pharmaceutical education through the development of educational qualification characteristics (EQCs) and the establishment of state educational standards. The article analyzes the content of the Regulations on the Organization of the Educational Process in Higher Education Institutions (1993), the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine “List of Fields of Study and Specialties for the Training of Specialists in Higher Education Institutions at the Relevant Educational and Qualification Levels” (1997), and other regulatory documents that established the specialty “Pharmacy” as an independent field of study and ensured the systematic regulation of educational activities in this domain.
The Concepts for the Development of the Pharmaceutical Sector (2007, 2010) and the Concept for the Development of Higher Medical Education (2008), which defined strategic priorities for sector modernization, human resource development, and the implementation of international standards (GMP, GPP, GDP, GCP, GLP), are also examined. The importance of the National Qualifications Framework (2011) as a mechanism for harmonizing educational levels is substantiated, along with the introduction of the Unified State Qualification Examination (2018) to enhance the objectivity of knowledge assessment. The development of new state educational standards (2022–2023) for pharmacists is analyzed, detailing the requirements for professional training at the level of the Professional Junior Bachelor degree and the second (Master’s) level of higher education.
The impact of international cooperation is outlined, particularly the membership of Ukrainian institutions in the European Association of Faculties of Pharmacy (EAFP), the implementation of academic mobility for students and faculty, and participation in the Erasmus+ Programme, all of which have contributed to improving the quality of the educational process. The article further examines the adoption in 2011 of the FIP/WHO Guidelines “Good Pharmacy Practice” as a framework for reforming educational programs toward patient-centered care, medicines safety, and enhanced professional responsibility. The significance of the Licensing Conditions for Conducting Economic Activities Related to the Manufacture, Wholesale, and Retail Trade of Medicinal Products (2016) is highlighted in determining qualification requirements for specialists engaged in pharmaceutical practice.
It is concluded that the transformation of the regulatory framework for pharmaceutical education in Ukraine constitutes a systemic process characterized by alignment with European standards, modernization of educational content, expansion of international cooperation, and the development of highly qualified human resources for the pharmaceutical sector. The findings of the study are significant for the further improvement of educational policy in Ukraine, the development of strategic regulatory documents, and the enhancement of the quality of professional training of pharmacists in the context of global educational and professional trends.