How many of you know that pharmacy was among the first scientific subjects taught at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens? This is the Faculty of Pharmacy. It holds a rich history.
Before the 1821 Revolution, pharmacies in Greece were scarce. They only existed on the Ionian Islands. In 1822, Theodore Paschalis, a pharmacist trained at the University of Padua, Italy, opened a pharmacy in Nafplio. Later, in 1825, Greeks from Trieste sent Bonifacio Bonafin to establish Nafplio’s first organized pharmacy. By 1850, there were 80 pharmacies in Greece. Greeks who had studied in Athens, Corfu, or abroad founded them.
The Department of Pharmacy joined the Hellenic University of Otto in 1843. It was a part of the Medical School. The first courses spanned three semesters. They included Physical Chemistry and Natural History. Medicine, Botany, Pharmacology, and Toxicology were also taught. Practical lab courses complemented these subjects. Greek and Latin were added too. Students needed three years of pharmacy experience before licensing. The curriculum expanded to two years.
Interestingly, no students enrolled in the Department of Pharmacy during the University’s first two years. However, five students enrolled in the third academic year. They received their degrees in May 1941.
The Department of Pharmacy has seen many changes over time. In 1905, it joined the School of Physics and Mathematics. By 1911, it became part of the School of Medicine. Then, in 1922, it went back to the School of Physics and Mathematics. It remained there until 1982. Finally, it became part of the School of Health Sciences. This included Medicine, Dentistry, and Nursing.
In 1990, a decision by the Council of State changed things again. The Department of Pharmacy became independent. However, on January 9th, 2014, it was reincorporated into the School of Health Sciences.
The first Royal Pharmaceutical Laboratory was at Academias and Vassilis Sofia Streets’ corner. The University’s first official laboratory opened in 1837. It was in the residence of architects Stamatios Kleanthis and Eduard Schaubert. This was on the Acropolis’ north slope, in Plaka. It is now the University Museum.
In 1870, the first building of the “Chimeio” was constructed. It stood in the courtyard of the Papadopoulou house. This was at the corner of Massalias and Akadimias streets. In 1928, it moved to Solonos Street in central Athens. The “Chimeio” was initially built in 1890. A fire destroyed it in 1910. It reopened in 1913.
Since 1992, the Department of Pharmacy has been on the University Campus. It resides within the School of Sciences of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
The first Chair of Pharmacy was in Pharmaceutical Chemistry. The Chair of Pharmacognosy followed in 1932. The Chair of Pharmaceutical Technology was established much later in 1979. These chairs became Sections in 1982, following the 1268 Law. Since the 1993-94 academic year, the Pharmacy degree lasts five years. That is ten semesters. This is per Presidential Decree 110/1993.
Today, the Faculty of Pharmacy continues its legacy. It shapes future pharmacists. It contributes to pharmaceutical science. Its journey reflects Greece’s evolving educational landscape. It all started with a vision to bring pharmaceutical knowledge to the forefront.