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Background: A negative outcome of consuming and manufacturing pharmaceuticals is that these substances reach the environment through different pathways. This can lead to severe consequences such as antibiotic resistance, but also disturbances in entire ecosystems. Educating health care professionals such as doctors and pharmacists about the subject could contribute to more environmentally friendly, pharmaceutical-related decisionsto be taken in the future, resulting in less negative environmental impacts.

Aim: To describe Swedish universities' educations of medical and pharmacy programs regarding the impact of pharmaceuticals on the environment, as well as how the students in their future professional role can contribute to reduce this impact.

Method: A survey study consisting of two parts. One questionnaire-based part, and one part reviewing educational plans for pharmacy and medical programs. One questionnaire was sent to course managers for courses within pharmacy programs, and one to program managers for the medical programs.

Results: In total, 47 out of 100 course managers and 6 out of 7 program managers participated in the questionnaires. 19 course managers indicated that their courses within pharmacy programs contain education about the environmental impacts of pharmaceuticals. All 6 program managers indicated that their program contains education about this. The most common areas educated about were sustainable drug use, sustainable drug manufacturing and development. All education plans contained learning objectives related to the environmental impacts of pharmaceuticals.

Conclusion: Sweden’s pharmacy and medical programs do contain some education about the environmental impacts of pharmaceuticals. However, more education is needed, especially regarding knowledge databases.