EAHP represents over 30,000 hospital pharmacists across 37 member countries. EAHP represents and develops the hospital pharmacy profession within Europe in order to ensure the continuous improvement of care and outcomes for patients in the hospital setting. This is achieved through science, research, education, practice, as well as sharing best-practice and responsibility with other healthcare professional
The EAHP Board, elected for three-year terms, oversees the association’s activities. Comprising directors responsible for core functions, it meets regularly to implement strategic goals. Supported by EAHP staff, the Board controls finances, coordinates congress organization, and ensures compliance with statutes and codes of conduct.
The EAHP staff supports the Board in executing EAHP’s mission. The Staff assists in financial management, events organisations, policy activities and all EAHP projects. The EAHP staff works closely with EAHP’s members and ensures the effective communication all relevant stakeholders.
The first member countries were Belgium, Britain, Denmark, France, the Federal Republic, Germany, Italy and The Netherlands in 1972. EAHP has now 37 EAHP members and 4 Associate Members. EAHP is open to countries members of the Council of Europe and since 2022 to organisations representing the interests of hospital pharmacists from outside the Council of Europe (Associate Membership)
EAHP’s structure is also composed by different standing committes: EAHP Scientific Committee, EAHP Education Executive Committee and the EAHP CTF Steering Committee.
At EAHP, we are committed to transparency in our governance, ethical standards, and funding practices. This section provides open access to our foundational documents, including the EAHP Statutes, Code of Conduct, and Funding Sources. By sharing these resources, we aim to uphold accountability and foster trust with our members, partners, and the public.
Keep up with all EAHP’s events and webinars. Contact the team at info@eahp.eu should you have any questions about upcoming events or activities.
Here you can find all upcoming events organised by EAHP and by all its members and associate members. Do not hesitate to contact the events team at events@eahp.eu should you have any questions about the organisation of these events.
Hospital pharmacists conduct a critical role in the care of patients in hospitals. Learn more about what they do here and in all the pages under Hospital Pharmacy practice and Policy.
Self-Assessment
SILCC
Closed SIGs
EAHP brings together experts from many areas of hospital pharmacy practice providing and highlighting good local sustainable practices as that can be up-scaled and shared with other countries. The EAHP Working Group on Sustainability has the aim of reducing the environmental burden of the hospital pharmacy services.
The European Association of Hospital Pharmacists (EAHP), and its 36 member country platforms are creating a Common Training Framework for the hospital pharmacy education in Europe. The goal of this project is to allow the free movement of hospital pharmacists within the European Union.
The European Association of Hospital Pharmacists (EAHP) and the European Society of Clinical Pharmacy (ESCP) have collaboratively developed the Oath to Society. The Oath to Society is all encompassing and acts as a contract for excellence in providing compassionate patient care, working as part of the healthcare team and advancing the pharmacy profession, and showcasing how clinical and hospital pharmacists work every day
A day created to highlight the importance and to celebrate the work done by hospital pharmacies. This day celebrates all hospital pharmacy teams.
The Early Career Network aims to empower early-career pharmacists by sharing opportunities, insights, and success stories from across 25 member countries.
Together, we’re building a stronger, more connected hospital pharmacy community: one story, one country, one pharmacist at a time.
Catch up with EAHP’s press releases
Find all EAHP relevant publication like the EAHP Surveys, annual reports and the history books.
The European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy (EJHP) is the only official journal of the European Association of Hospital Pharmacists (EAHP) and is committed to advancing the science, practice and profession of hospital pharmacy. As the premier communication platform for hospital pharmacists worldwide, EJHP is a major source for continuing education as well as updates on advances in the practice and standard of pharmaceutical care for patients.
When EAHP and Hospital pharmacists appear in the news.
EAHP publishes a monthly EU monitor with updates about the latest EAHP initiatives and information relevant for the hospital pharmacy profession.
Explore EAHP through photos and videos, featuring highlights from our congresses, events, projects and initiatives.
The Sponsor Channel is designed to maximise visibility and engagement, allowing sponsors to connect with the hospital pharmacy community and partners in a dynamic and interactive environment. From product demonstrations to networking sessions, the Sponsor Channel offers a range of opportunities for sponsors to showcase their offerings and generate leads in the new EAHP Website.
Medication errors are a source of preventable harm in hospitals. Advances in technology can increase patient safety by allowing pharmacists to scan a barcode when dispensing medicines. This ensures the right patient receives the right doseof the right medication.
New guidance published today by The European Association of Hospital Pharmacists (EAHP) and the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries & Associations (EFPIA) supports the application of barcodes to each dose of medication. This will be a step forward from applying barcodes to multi-packs of medication.
The guidance was developed jointly by EAHP and EFPIA following studies by pharmacists showing that bedside scanning can significantly reduce medication errors by between 30% and 60%. The document sets out a clear, ambitious and feasible implementation plan which will result in a better experience and outcomes for patients.
The new approach will be phased in over a 15-year period to minimise disruption for patients and hospitals while managing additional costs. It applies to all new medicines from 2031 and will extend to existing products over time. The initiative is the result of ongoing efforts by hospital pharmacists and industry to advance patient safety.
“EAHP welcomes the joint guidance on single unit barcoding as an important step forwards in reducing medication errors and adverse events. We thank EFPIA for their collaboration and commitment to the implementation of this important guidance.” Said Nenad Miljković, EAHP President. “EAHP is committed to ensure the effective and suitable use of single unit coding in healthcare systems to guarantee patient safety.
“This joint guidance on single unit barcoding reflects our shared commitment to patient safety. I thank EAHP for their constructive collaboration and acknowledge the efforts of EFPIA member companies in preparing to implement the guidance,” said Nathalie Moll, EFPIA Director General. “Over the next five years, all new medicines will include a barcode on every dose. This will support better use of healthcare resources, including healthcare professionals’ time, and will deliver real advances in patient care.”
Read the joint guidance HERE.
Background: Better for patients, better for health services
Errors in dispensing medication in hospitals can lead to increases in illness and, in some cases, death. Administering the wrong dose or wrong medication also leads to longer hospital stays, avoidable readmissions and higher costs. However, the health and economic burden of medication errors can be reduced.
In hospitals, medication multi-packs can contain several doses of medication which are separated into individual doses and dispensed to several patients. At present, while the original pack may carry a barcode, the individual doses often do not. Printing barcodes on each individual vial, blister or pre-filled syringe can reduce error rates by up to 41%[1].
The barcode will contain information on the GTIN product code, batch/lot number, and expiry date. This information will allow pharmacists to check that the patient is receiving the right medicine.
From 2031, all new products will feature barcodes on each single unit dose of medication, while the new approach will be applied to existing medicines on a phased basis. 50% of hospitals in Europe will be able to perform bedside scanning of the code by 2032, increasing to 80% by 2036.
[1] Effect of Bar-Code Technology on the Safety of Medication Administration | New England Journal of Medicine
The European Association of Hospital Pharmacists (EAHP) therefore calls on decision makers, politicians and national administrations to implement bar coding of medicines to the single dose administered in hospitals in national and European regulations.
See EAHP statement here.
See EAHP response to European Commission consultation on the Unique Identifier for Medicinal Products (April 2012) here.
The Netherlands is hoping to play a pioneering role in the introduction of a uniform system for registration of the administration of medication. In an interview with GS1 Netherland (English translation available HERE), the President of the Dutch Association of Hospital Pharmacists (NVZA), Tjalling van der Schors highlighted his hopes that the current Dutch cabinet will take the necessary steps for the compulsory introduction of uniform barcoding on primary medication. Improved patient safety and the minimisation of administration errors are benefits mentioned by Mr van der Schors. The implementation of the Delegated Regulation laying down detailed rules for the safety features appearing on the packaging of medical products for human use could have been an excellent opportunity to introduce the registration of the administration of medication. This chance was however missed.
His hopes now rest on the former Dutch Minister of Health Edith Schippers. She informed the Dutch Parliament in early February 2017 by means of a letter that all parties concerned needed to take steps to introduce barcoding on primary medication packaging as a matter of urgency. She based this viewpoint on the conclusions of the report ‘Barcodering op de primaire verpakking van geneesmiddelen in ziekenhuizen; een kosten-baten analyse’ (Barcoding on the primary packaging of medication in hospitals: a cost-benefit analysis) by Capgemini Consulting, which had been commissioned by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport.
Image courtesty of Optel Vision
