The Association of Finnish Pharmacies
The Association of Finnish Pharmacies
The Association of Finnish Pharmacies is an organisation representing privately owned, pharmacist-run pharmacies.
We promote the development of high-quality, ethical and professional pharmacy operations as part of healthcare, safeguard our members’ interests and provide services that support their pharmacy business.
Our mission
Pharmacies are a valued and seamless part of healthcare. They ensure a functional medicine supply chain and high-quality pharmacy services – nationwide, responsibly and sustainably. The entire pharmacy system is built on pharmacist ownership.
Our Vision 2030
Pharmacies are a valued and seamless part of healthcare. They ensure a functional medicine supply chain and high-quality pharmacy services – nationwide, responsibly and sustainably. The entire pharmacy system is built on pharmacist ownership.
Our Promise
to Society
We are a reliable partner supporting the development of the pharmacy sector for the benefit of society and citizens. We promote the quality, safety and responsibility of pharmaceutical care and medicine supply, as well as Finland’s national security of supply. We provide reliable information to support decision-making.
To Our Members
We are responsible for representing our members’ interests, with the goal of safeguarding the conditions for sustainable and high-quality pharmacy operations. We offer effective, tailored services and strengthen our members’ ability to respond to changes in the pharmacy sector.
Pharmacists Are Entrepreneurs
Our key mission is to safeguard and strengthen the operational conditions of pharmacist-owned pharmacies and to further develop pharmacy operations as an integral part of healthcare, providing even stronger support for the public social- and healthcare system. The responsibilities and operating conditions of pharmacies must be kept in balance.
Who Are Our Members?
Pharmacists who have been granted a pharmacy licence by Fimea can become members of the Association of Finnish Pharmacies. Almost all practising pharmacists in Finland are members. Membership ends when the pharmacy licence is no longer valid.
Health Services Provided by Pharmacies
For almost every Finn, the pharmacy is the nearest healthcare service. At pharmacies, customers receive free medication counselling and guidance on the correct use of medicines, face to face and without an appointment.
Many pharmacies also offer additional services that support treatment, such as medication reviews, automated dose dispensing, and medication check-up services. Pharmacies also cooperate with local nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
Pharmacies Are Pharmacist-Owned
Pharmacies in Finland are responsible for managing the retail distribution of medicines and ensuring their correct and safe use. As in many other EU countries, only a pharmacist (M.Sc. in Pharmacy) may own a pharmacy. The pharmacist ownership model ensures that pharmacy operations and medicine sales are managed based on healthcare objectives rather than commercial goals. It also ensures the independence of pharmacies from the pharmaceutical industry and wholesalers.
A pharmacy owner is a private entrepreneur and carries professional, ethical, and financial responsibility for the pharmacy. This combination of pharmacist ownership and private entrepreneurship ensures that taxes from medicine sales remain fully in Finland and that pharmacy operations and medicine sales are transparent to authorities and citizens.
In Finland, pharmacies are the only entirely entrepreneur-driven part of the healthcare system with a statutory public service role. While private doctors and health clinics complement public healthcare, pharmacies independently manage the entire outpatient distribution of medicines. The entire Finnish medicine distribution system is thus built on private pharmacies. For this reason, pharmacy operations are subject to extensive regulation, statutory obligations, and supervision. Regulation ensures equal access to medicines and pharmaceutical advice for all Finns.
Finns trust pharmacies
83 %
of Finns consider it important to have the possibility to receive advice from a pharmacist when purchasing medicines.
Source: Fimea Lääkebarometri 2023
Year after year, surveys show that Finns rank pharmacy staff among the most trusted professional groups, alongside rescue personnel. This trust stems from the high level of education and expertise of pharmacy professionals.
The majority (83%) consider it important to be able to ask a pharmacist for advice when purchasing medicines. Pharmacies are also the most common source of medical information: 78% of citizens cite pharmacy staff as an important source. Other sources include doctors (58%) and medicine package leaflets (37%).
A clear majority (92%) of Finns feel that there are enough pharmacies and that purchasing medicines is smooth and convenient. Furthermore, 80% of Finns would like pharmacies to provide a wider range of health services.
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