The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 268 No 7188 p340-341
9 March 2002

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What happens in Sweden

Helena Samuelson, of Farmaciforbundet, Sweden, described her work as an ombudsman for Apoket AB, a union in Sweden with 6,000 members, including 2,000 pharmacy technicians working in pharmacies. Apotek AB is owned by the government and has 10,000 employees who provide drugs and knowledge for the maximum benefit at the minimum cost. The Swedish pharmacy system is a monopoly with an exclusive right to sell drugs and there is access to the entire range of drugs within 24 hours for the same cost wherever one lives.

Ms Samuelson said that the Swedish technician's role is similar to that in the United Kingdom. It involves providing information and non-prescription drugs, and dispensing prescription drugs.

Technicians in Sweden are not regulated and it is up to each manager to decide whether the title "technician" can be used or not. The union recently negotiated an agreement for the training of technicians as a first step towards regulation.

The Swedish aim is to sell drugs in pharmacies, not elsewhere.

Pharmacy technicians need communication skills for the customer interface, screening patients' needs, giving good advice, and referrals to other health care professionals. They should be able to step in and take over pharmacists' previous responsibilities and provide a more customer-oriented role of consultation and guidance in support of medicine-taking.

Technicians in Sweden would like to have a protected title and to be certificated. The natural progression is to achieve a protected title and develop standards of training and practice that would enable technicians to undertake some new roles.