Innovating for Better Healthcare: A Century of Pharmaceutical Science at UNIGE

 

Pharmacy has undergone profound changes, evolving from a profession focused on the preparation and dispensing of medicines to a central clinical role. 

In the face of an aging population, the rise in chronic diseases, and the need for a sustainable healthcare system, pharmacists now take on greater responsibilities. This transformation—driven by innovations such as vaccination, personalized care, and artificial intelligence—requires stronger collaboration with all healthcare professions. 

These future challenges were recently addressed at the event “Innovating for Better Healthcare”, held on Friday, September 26, 2025, to mark the centenary of the Section of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Geneva (UNIGE). 
Ranked among the top 5 pharmacy institutions in the French-speaking world, the Section owes its growth to a strategic turning point in 2004: the merger of the pharmacy schools in Geneva and Lausanne, which gave birth to today’s Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland (ISPSO). 

"Before this date, we were two small structures with limited visibility," recalls honorary professor Jean-Luc Veuthey, the first president of the Geneva-Lausanne School of Pharmacy. The merger—although politically debated and initially opposed—made it possible to pool cantonal expertise and create a dynamic regional hub. 

A second decisive move was the geographical regrouping of health sciences on the Champel campus, alongside the Faculty of Medicine and the University Hospitals (HUG). 

"This physical proximity is essential," emphasizes Professor Gerrit Borchard, current president of the School. "Thanks to the Interprofessional Simulation Centre, future pharmacists, doctors, dentists, midwives, and nurses train together. There, they acquire the collaborative skills that are vital to providing modern patient care." 

Today, the Section is a vital part of UNIGE’s Faculty of Science, with 18 research groups and over 120 new students each year. 
It trains nearly half of all pharmacists in Switzerland—a profession in high demand whose career opportunities span retail pharmacies (the majority), hospitals, research and industry, as well as regulatory bodies and public administration. 

However, a major challenge remains: only half of the pharmacists practicing in Switzerland were trained in the country, creating a worrying shortage. 

For more information, please visit: 
https://www.unige.ch/lejournal/evenements/automne-2025/100ans-pharmacie/ 

 

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