Solufarma

Solufarma is a project built for pharmacists who want to work in Germany. Founded by Jan Möller-Holtkamp, it offers qualified pharmacists and recent pharmacy graduates the best possible route into the German community pharmacy market, accompanying and guiding them through the whole recruitment process and selecting only those Apotheken that understand what a newcomer needs and are willing to help at the start. It charges candidates no commission at all. The site is published in Spanish, English, Portuguese and German, and the company's presentation can be downloaded in Spanish, German, English, French, Italian and Portuguese.

The specialism is community pharmacy, and the process is documented step by step for both sides. The professional qualification of a European pharmacist is recognised in Germany and across the EU without further examination, but in most Bundesländer the candidate must pass a subject specific language examination at C1 level with the responsible Bezirksregierung in order to obtain the Deutsche Approbation. Candidates arrive holding an Approbation from an EU country and at least a B1 certificate in German, then take intensive courses of about 20 hours a week, roughly three months per level. They begin in the pharmacy as a Hospitant on around 1,075 euros gross for 20 hours a week, which leaves time for language study, and once the language test is passed they are taken on at the Approbierten-Tarifgehalt with a contract of at least one year.

The costs to the pharmacy are set out openly: a 100 euro contribution to flight and hotel costs paid directly to the candidate after an interview, with a maximum of five interviews per candidate, the minimum wage during the Hospitation, and a Solufarma fee of 3,500 to 4,500 euros plus VAT depending on the pharmacist's qualification, half at the start of the Hospitation and half on successful appointment. Further support such as a language course or accommodation is welcomed, since it improves the chance of keeping the candidate. For the pharmacist the company points to 13 salary payments a year, above 3,800 euros gross once the qualification is recognised, plus continuing education and international contacts. Enquiries go to [email protected].