Training of the pharmaceutical personnel during the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945 (to the 75th anniversary of the Victory)

Abstract. The characteristic of the functioning of the pharmaceutical personnel training system on the eve and during the years of World War II is presented. It was established that the country’s leadership had carried out a conceptual restructuring of the entire education system in advance and measures had been taken to streamline scientific and scientific-pedagogical work. At the beginning of the war, decisive measures were taken at the state level to preserve both the number of universities with their scientific and pedagogical potential, and the number of students. It is shown that on the eve of the war 22916 pharmaceutical specialists were in stock, of which more than 11 thousand people were drafted into the army, which accounted for about 70% of the staffing requirement. However, these specialists could not fully carry out professional activities without additional knowledge. Many of them, called up from the reserve, in practice in the most difficult wartime conditions, comprehended the organizational features of the work of hospital pharmacies and warehouses, the military field technology for the manufacture of medicines, the principles of medical supply for the army. The contribution of the Military Medical Academy named after CM. Kirov in improving the efficiency of the functioning of the medical supply system and the training of military pharmaceutical personnel. The activities of universities to establish training necessary for the front and rear of specialists, ways to eliminate the “personnel hunger”, the organization of the educational process in besieged Leningrad are shown. The heroism of students and teachers of institutes is reflected. Celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Great Victory, it is difficult to overestimate the dedicated work of the teaching staff and researchers of pharmaceutical universities and faculties, which allowed not only to preserve, but also to increase the potential of the pharmaceutical education system during the Great Patriotic War. Trained pharmaceutical specialists in difficult conditions worked selflessly at the front, in the rear, preserving the life, health of the wounded and sick soldiers and the country’s population, bringing Victory closer.