Establishment of Pharmacy Faculty in Nice Set for 2025
After years of advocacy, Nice will welcome its first pharmacy faculty at the University Côte d'Azur in the upcoming academic year.
In a significant development for healthcare education in the region, Nice will introduce its first pharmacy faculty in the upcoming academic year of 2025, addressing a long-standing gap in medical training.
This new educational establishment will be part of the University Côte d'Azur, marking the 25th pharmacy department in France.
According to local authorities, the decision is a response to the dwindling number of pharmacies in the Alpes-Maritimes department—exactly 464 in 2014, with figures falling to 424 in 2024.
Christian Estrosi, the mayor of Nice, emphasized the importance of this initiative for both the city and the surrounding region, noting that the faculty will meet the educational needs of future pharmacists.
The project, championed by Raphaël Gigliotti, president of the Alpes-Maritimes Pharmacy Union, has been in development since 2020 in collaboration with the municipality, the university, the faculty of medicine, and the local hospital (CHU).
The new program is expected to accommodate around forty students initially, with plans to double enrollment quickly.
Gigliotti highlighted that the creation of this faculty is crucial, particularly in light of the demographic challenges faced in medical and pharmaceutical personnel in Nice and the broader department.
The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the necessity for local pharmacist training, as many major French cities relied on younger pharmacists to assist with testing and vaccinations while Nice lacked the same resources due to the absence of a pharmacy faculty.
A demographic study indicated that among the twelve largest cities in France, Nice was the only one without a pharmacy department available.
Anticipating immediate benefits, the faculty aims to provide second-year pharmacy education to students currently enrolled in first-year health programs.
Gigliotti also noted the critical role of pharmacists in public health, specifically in vaccination initiatives and prevention efforts, particularly as the population continues to age and there is a pressing need to address the retiring workforce in the sector.
There is a significant demand for locally trained students, as many have previously transitioned to other cities for their studies despite a preference to remain in Nice.
Additionally, the presence of numerous pharmaceutical companies in the region, especially around Sophia Antipolis, is creating a demand for trained healthcare professionals.
The establishment of the pharmacy faculty is also anticipated to improve access to healthcare services for residents.
Historical challenges, such as the closure of the pharmacy in Tende during a severe storm, exemplify the necessity for a robust local healthcare workforce.
Efforts have been made since 2020 to recruit pharmacists, yet local needs remain high and the new faculty is expected to help mitigate such issues.
This new educational establishment will be part of the University Côte d'Azur, marking the 25th pharmacy department in France.
According to local authorities, the decision is a response to the dwindling number of pharmacies in the Alpes-Maritimes department—exactly 464 in 2014, with figures falling to 424 in 2024.
Christian Estrosi, the mayor of Nice, emphasized the importance of this initiative for both the city and the surrounding region, noting that the faculty will meet the educational needs of future pharmacists.
The project, championed by Raphaël Gigliotti, president of the Alpes-Maritimes Pharmacy Union, has been in development since 2020 in collaboration with the municipality, the university, the faculty of medicine, and the local hospital (CHU).
The new program is expected to accommodate around forty students initially, with plans to double enrollment quickly.
Gigliotti highlighted that the creation of this faculty is crucial, particularly in light of the demographic challenges faced in medical and pharmaceutical personnel in Nice and the broader department.
The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the necessity for local pharmacist training, as many major French cities relied on younger pharmacists to assist with testing and vaccinations while Nice lacked the same resources due to the absence of a pharmacy faculty.
A demographic study indicated that among the twelve largest cities in France, Nice was the only one without a pharmacy department available.
Anticipating immediate benefits, the faculty aims to provide second-year pharmacy education to students currently enrolled in first-year health programs.
Gigliotti also noted the critical role of pharmacists in public health, specifically in vaccination initiatives and prevention efforts, particularly as the population continues to age and there is a pressing need to address the retiring workforce in the sector.
There is a significant demand for locally trained students, as many have previously transitioned to other cities for their studies despite a preference to remain in Nice.
Additionally, the presence of numerous pharmaceutical companies in the region, especially around Sophia Antipolis, is creating a demand for trained healthcare professionals.
The establishment of the pharmacy faculty is also anticipated to improve access to healthcare services for residents.
Historical challenges, such as the closure of the pharmacy in Tende during a severe storm, exemplify the necessity for a robust local healthcare workforce.
Efforts have been made since 2020 to recruit pharmacists, yet local needs remain high and the new faculty is expected to help mitigate such issues.
