The conducted study revealed a critical shortage of qualified pharmaceutical personnel in drug manufacturing. Analysis of current enrollment and graduation rates in Pharmacy programs enabled the development of two workforce projection scenarios through 2030. Under the conservative scenario (assuming 20 % of graduates enter production), the number of professionals with higher pharmaceutical education is projected to decrease by 5% (680 individuals) compared to 2022 levels. The baseline scenario (35 % employment in production) predicts a 17 % increase (2,590 professionals), yet this growth remains insufficient to address both the current deficit of 3,000 specialists and the additional requirement of 4,500 personnel needed to achieve the Pharma-2030 Strategy targets. The study methodology contained several limitations: unaccounted migration patterns, evolving labor conditions, and insufficient statistical data on workforce attrition rates. To compensate for the latter, extrapolated medical sector data were employed with adjustments for the pharmaceutical workforce's age demographics. To address these challenges, we propose a comprehensive intervention package requiring coordinated implementation across educational institutions, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and regulatory bodies. This multi-stakeholder approach outlines a strategic roadmap to ensure adequate workforce supply and successful attainment of the Pharma-2030 objectives.
Tatyana M. Litvinova – MD, PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vice-Rector for Educational and Upbringing Work, Federal State Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education, First Moscow State Medical University named after I.M. Sechenov of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia.
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