Some 1,100 places are still vacant on the benches of the 24 French pharmacy universities, a figure up 550% compared to the previous school year, according to the National Association of Pharmacy Students of France (Anepf).
In 2021, the number of vacant places amounted to 163, specifies Romain Gallerand, spokesperson for Anepf.
This observation highlights "the unequal application of the reform of entry into health studies" according to the universities, regret in a joint press release the Anepf, the National Council of the Order of Pharmacists, as well as the main federations and unions of pharmacists and drug companies.
“The defective application of the reform, programs that are far too busy and an absence of local monitoring committees are among other things responsible for this fall in the filling of promotions”, advance the signatories of the press release.
Since September 2020, the common first year of health studies (Paces) has been replaced by two streams: the specific health access course (Pass), and the health access license (Las).
In Paces, a competition determined a ranking, taking into account a pre-defined numerus clausus.
All "classified" students then automatically entered the second year of study.
But now, "it's a license model that applies, so if we don't have the average, we don't pass", summarizes Romain Gallerand.
However, "the courses are as complicated as before," he laments, which may explain a decrease in the number of students selected.
Pharmacy professionals also note "a great lack of attractiveness" for the sector, and denounce an insufficient presentation of the variety of professions during the first year.
The many professional paths available to students, such as industry or the hospital environment, remain unknown, underlines Mr. Gallerand.
The reduction in the number of students is "not viable for (..) the French healthcare system as a whole", warn the professional unions, recalling that the profession already suffers from a "shortage of human resources " for several years.
© 2022 AFP