Hospital Pharmacists from 34 countries gather in Brussels to vote on new Charter of Care

13 May 2014

Hospital Pharmacists from 34 European countries gather today for a unique Summit to tackle current diversities in health provision and set out the future services to be delivered by the profession. Alongside representatives from over 25 European patient organisations and associations representing other healthcare professionals, the Summit will deliver a long term vision for maximising the contribution pharmacists make to patient care in European hospitals.

Taking place in Brussels across two days (14-15 May), 45 bold and aspirational statements of hospital pharmacy practice across 6 thematic areas will be debated and scrutinised by over 100 attendees, before being subject to final voting on the last day of the Summit.

Designed to help address inequalities in health provision across Europe by offering a consensus view on what should be achieved by health systems, the Summit is a unique undertaking to build the political will and common vision to improve the care of patients.

Commenting on the Summit, EAHP President Dr Roberto Frontini:

“Today’s Summit is the culmination of months of preparation, but the start of years of focused improvement efforts. As Seneca reminds us, if one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favourable. By the end of these two days, 34 national hospital pharmacy platforms, alongside over 25 patient and healthcare professional organisations, will have agreed together what we need to achieve in hospital pharmacy practice development. The onus then shifts to EAHP, our members and national health systems to see the aspirations brought to reality. It’s a challenge we relish, knowing that it is high quality patient care and patient safety that is the beneficiary.”

MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA ARE INVITED TO ATTEND THE SUMMIT, CONDUCT INTERVIEWS WITH HOSPITAL PHARMACISTS, PATIENT AND HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL ATTENDEES AND JOIN AN EVENING RECEPTION ON WEDNESDAY 14th MAY. YOU ARE KINDLY ASKED TO REGISTER ATTENDANCE IN ADVANCE BY CONTACTING INFO[at]EAHP[dot]EU

ENDS

For further information contact info[at]eahp[dot]eu / 00 322 741 6835

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. The European Association of Hospital Pharmacists (EAHP) is an association of national organisations across 34 countries representing hospital pharmacists at European and international levels. More information about the EAHP and its history here.

2. The European Summit on Hospital Pharmacy is being held at the Diamant Business Centre in Brussels on 14-15 May 2014. More information about the Summit is available here.

3. A video giving the background to the Summit is available here.

4. Photographs of the Summit, for reuse by the media, will be made available via the EAHP online press room. More information here.

5. The full list of Summit statements agreed by the Summit will be made available in the days following the event. The statements to be discussed at the Summit are available here. The six thematic areas are: introductory statements; selection, procurement and distribution of medicines; compounding and production of medicines; clinical services; patient safety and quality assurance; and, education and research.

6. EAHP President Dr Roberto Frontini, and other Summit participants, including national representatives and patient and healthcare professional organisations, are available for interview by contacting info[at]eahp[dot]eu.

7. The list of Summit participant organisations is available here.