PHARMACY – YESTERDAY, TODAY, TOMORROW: A SYSTEMATIC ANALYSIS FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF PHARMACEUTICAL SAFETY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11603/2312-0967.2026.3.16491Keywords:
pharmaceutical sector of the healthcare system, state policy, pharmacy network, availability of medicines, master’s level education, pharmaceutical human resources, pharmaceutical safety, development forecastsAbstract
The aim of the article seeks to conduct a systematic comparative analysis of Ukraine’s pharmaceutical sector of the healthcare system (PSHCS) in retrospective (2009) and current (2026) contexts, assessing key risks in state policy, education and human resources, the pharmacy segment, and medicine availability as critical factors for pharmaceutical safety (PS). It further aims to apply predictive modeling to outline strategic development vectors for the pharmacist profession, new pharmacy services, and master’s level pharmaceutical education in Ukraine up to 2035.
Materials and Methods. The study applies historical-didactic, systemic-structural, comparative, and content analysis, combined with integrated predictive modeling through a multi‑LLM AI approach (Google AI Mode, Gemini, Claude, Copilot, ChatGPT, Grok). The source base consists of legal-regulatory acts and scientific publications.
Results and Discussion. From the perspective of PS, state policy in the PSHCS shifted from passivity to excessive regulation. Pharmaceutical education and human resources declined from devaluation of professional identity to a deep crisis of workforce reproduction, reducing care quality. The pharmacy network moved from stability to turbulence, weakening its social role. Economic access to medicines evolved from low purchasing power to commodification risks, while physical access improved through digital and mobile solutions, though “pharmacy deserts” persist. AI modeling shows the pharmacist’s transition toward pharmacotherapy management, acting as a clinical expert and equal member of the multidisciplinary team. New services (lifestyle counseling, telepharmacy, vaccination, POCT, MTM, pharmacogenetic counseling, personalized compounding, independent prescribing) demonstrate strong integration potential. Scenarios for master’s level pharmaceutical education range from optimistic (Ukraine – regional hub) to pessimistic (workforce collapse and educational decline).
Conclusions. The future of the PSHCS depends on effective tripartite dialogue between the state, the professional community, and society to ensure sustainable PS as a strategic healthcare resource and integral part of Ukraine’s national security during wartime and post‑war recovery.
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