University Pharmacy is owned by the University of Helsinki. In addition to the main pharmacy located in Helsinki, University Pharmacy has 16 branch pharmacies throughout Finland.
Contact information and business hours in Finland
2010 in brief
Through its operations, University Pharmacy supports both research and education, and is the most significant employer of pharmaceutical personnel in Finland. University Pharmacy has extended its operations to Finland’s neighbouring countries Estonia and Russia as well.
Turnover and profit
University Pharmacy’s turnover in Finland decreased by 2% to 263.0 million euros. The pharmacy fee levied on medicine sales amounted to 24.0 million euros. University Pharmacy’s net profit in 2010 totalled 15.8 million euros, the entire amount of which was submitted to the University of Helsinki.
Number of prescriptions
In 2010 University Pharmacy processed some 4.6 million prescriptions, which means a decrease of 0.3% from the previous year. The Turku branch of University Pharmacy was among the first Finnish pharmacies to launch the electronic prescription system.
Personnel
In Finland, University Pharmacy employs 935 people, of whom 56% are pharmaceutical staff.
Activities organised in line with the Pharmacy’s Human Resources Strategy support business operations through professional development, skilful management and the promotion of wellbeing at work.
The YA-Akatemia training programme is responsible for providing in-house training. In addition to continuing education, the University Pharmacy offers specialist training to its staff. Holders of a Bachelor of Science (Pharm.) degree may train to be specialist pharmacists. Technical staff may pursue the vocational qualification in business and administration, and superiors the specialist qualification for managers.
requent customers and services
In late 2010 the number of University Pharmacy frequent customers was over 850,000. The core of this customer service programme is the improvement of drug safety and the provision of information on the correct and safe use of medication.
During 2010 University Pharmacy made great efforts to develop further the electronic services and communications aimed at frequent customers, who were provided with a monthly newsletter on health issues and the possibility to request online a listing of their previous purchases. In 2011 University Pharmacy will be able to launch an online pharmacy.
Environment
University Pharmacy actively continued to raise awareness about the correct disposal of medications and the risks caused by keeping unneeded medicines at home. New lockable waste containers in all outlets, where customers can dispose of their unneeded medicines, proved to be user-friendly.
International operations
At the end of 2010 there were 11 YA Ülikooli Apteek in Estonia and 11 YA Universitetskaja Apteka in St Petersburg. The total number of personnel in these pharmacies was 166. Important milestones during the past year include the introduction of e-prescriptions in Estonia and the abolishment of pricing regulations for pharmaceuticals (with the exception of essential medicines) in Russia.