By Arina Toth – Originally published in Zi de Zi on 11 October 2026
English translation of the original Romanian article.
Behind every medicine that reaches a patient are processes of research, manufacturing, quality control, authorisation and safety monitoring, to which pharmacists contribute through work that differs from that carried out in community or hospital pharmacies. To make the voice of industrial pharmacists heard and support the interests of a professional community with diverse responsibilities, the Industrial Pharmacists’ Forum Association (Asociația Forumul Farmaciștilor din Industrie, AFFI) was established in Romania. Founded in March 2024, the association aims to provide representation and professional development opportunities for these pharmacists and has been affiliated with the European Industrial Pharmacists Group (EIPG) since that same year.
The association’s role and development priorities were presented at the 14th Conference of Pharmacists from Mureș, held on 8–9 October. The initiative began with a discussion among members of the professional community and took shape through the formation of a group seeking to draw attention to the particular nature of pharmacists’ work in the pharmaceutical industry.
“We wanted to create a membership organisation that could become a representative body for pharmacists working in industry. Our initial wish was to start somewhere with an industrial presence [editor’s note: Târgu Mureș], from which we could establish a voice that would, in a sense, represent industrial pharmacists,” explained Lecturer Marius Cherecheș, a faculty member at the “George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology (UMFST) and president of the association.
Alongside Marius Cherecheș, the founding members include professionals with experience in the pharmaceutical industry, academia and consultancy, such as Delia-Corina Tarcea, Quality Director at Sanofi; Kelemen László-József, Marketing and Sales Director at Gedeon Richter Romania; Camelia Florea, General Director of Gedeon Richter Romania; Flavian Ștefan Rădulescu, Associate Professor at the “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Bucharest; pharmacist Paul Andreianu, a member of the United Kingdom’s Royal Pharmaceutical Society with extensive experience in the field; and Petru Crăciun, Associate Professor at the “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Bucharest. The association also has two honorary institutional members: the “George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology (UMFST) in Târgu Mureș and the “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Bucharest.
A professional world encompassing numerous specialisations
Although grouped under the same designation, industrial pharmacists work in very different fields, each with its own requirements and responsibilities. Their work may involve the actual manufacture of medicines, quality control and quality assurance, validation, stability studies, regulatory affairs, pharmacovigilance or distribution. This diversity explains both the need for representation and the importance of access to information and other professionals’ experience.
“It is a world in its own right which, in our view, is currently underrepresented, and we want to give these pharmacists a voice,” added Lecturer Marius Cherecheș.
Representation, knowledge and professional gatherings
The association’s activities will be built on three pillars. The first is representing industrial pharmacists in dialogue with the authorities and other stakeholders in the field. AFFI seeks to contribute to these discussions from the perspective of professionals who work directly in the pharmaceutical industry and understand its particular characteristics. The second pillar concerns developing a shared source of knowledge. In a field encompassing numerous specialisations, access to information, data and experience can support day-to-day work and collaboration among professionals.
“Pharmacists work in highly diverse and specialised subfields and need access to information, knowledge, data and experience. We aim to become, in a sense, a knowledge hub,” added the AFFI representative.
Organising events constitutes the third area of activity. The association aims to establish a tradition of gatherings that bring together industry specialists, representatives of the authorities and professionals from other fields to exchange experience and develop professional relationships.
Connections with professionals across Europe
Pursuing European cooperation was one of the association’s earliest priorities. AFFI became affiliated with the European Industrial Pharmacists Group (EIPG) in 2024. Industrial pharmacists’ need for representation and the exchange of experience is also reflected in the concerns of the European organisation with which AFFI became affiliated in 2024. In a video message delivered at the Conference of Pharmacists from Mureș, Anni Svala, President of the European Industrial Pharmacists Group (EIPG), outlined this broader perspective, highlighting the role of professionals who contribute throughout the entire lifecycle of a medicine to the safety, quality and availability of treatments for patients.
“When people think of pharmacists, they often think of community pharmacies, hospitals or direct patient care. Yet thousands of pharmacists work behind the scenes throughout the entire lifecycle of a medicine. These professionals are industrial pharmacists, and EIPG is their voice at European level. EIPG is much more than an association. It is a community of experts and a platform for cooperation. At the heart of its work are two important objectives. The first is to promote and champion the importance and role of pharmacists in the pharmaceutical industry. The second is to support the development of the pharmaceutical industry and related industries in the interests of public health. Through these objectives, EIPG seeks to ensure that pharmacists continue to make a significant contribution to healthcare, innovation, quality, safety and access to medicines,” said the EIPG President.
The European organisation was established in 1966 and represents approximately 10,000 industrial pharmacists through its member national professional organisations. EIPG contributes to discussions on pharmaceutical policy and the future of medicines and participates, as an eligible stakeholder, in activities of the European Medicines Agency.
Anni Svala highlighted three important themes in EIPG’s work: professional development in the context of artificial intelligence, sustainability, and pharmacists’ contribution to addressing medicine shortages and strengthening supply chains.
“EIPG is currently focusing on several strategic priorities that are shaping the future of healthcare and the pharmaceutical industry. These include the professional development of industrial pharmacists in the age of artificial intelligence, pharmacists’ contribution to environmental sustainability, and their role in addressing medicine shortages and increasing supply chain resilience. These priorities reflect some of the most pressing issues facing healthcare systems in Europe. Medicine shortages are an area of particular concern. Patients in Europe continue to face shortages of essential medicines, often because of the complex interplay between manufacturing difficulties, supply chain disruptions, regulatory requirements, economic pressures and global events. Industrial pharmacists have an in-depth understanding of these challenges and are well equipped to contribute to lasting solutions,” stated Anni Svala, who also emphasised that “the industrial pharmacist connects technology, science, regulatory compliance and patient safety.”
Original article: Zi de Zi, 11 October 2026, Author: Arina Toth