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 36 EAHP members and 2 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.
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.
Clinical Pharmacy Services
Vera Pires, Maria João Teixeira, Rui Marques
Ifosfamide-induced encephalopathy (IIE) is a serious and often underdiagnosed adverse effect of ifosfamide, with variable incidence and no standardised approach to prevention or treatment. The project aimed to improve patient safety and clinical outcomes by developing a standardised, evidence-based institutional protocol to guide prophylaxis and management of IIE.
An institutional protocol for the prevention and treatment of IIE was developed and implemented, defining clear recommendations for methylene blue and thiamine use, standardising dosing regimens, and providing practical instructions for clinical teams.
A comprehensive literature review was carried out, current local practices were analysed, and a multidisciplinary team collaborated to design the protocol. The final version was reviewed and approved by the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee (PTC) before implementation.
The protocol reduced variability in prescribing practices, increased medication safety, and enhanced the pharmacist’s involvement in monitoring and managing adverse events. It established consistent dosing, preparation, and administration procedures for both adult and paediatric patients, improving overall care quality and coordination.
The next step is to evaluate the clinical and organisational impact of the protocol from both patient and institutional perspectives, with a focus on outcomes such as incidence reduction, safety indicators, and staff adherence.
Clinical Pharmacy Services
Kamila Urbańczyk1,2, Przemysław Kardas3, W. Witkiewicz1, A. Hogg4, M. Scott4, A. Wiela-Hojeńska2
1) Department of General, Vascular and Oncological Surgery, Regional Specialist Hospital in Wroclaw
2) Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Wroclaw Medical University
3) Medication Adherence Research Center, Department of Family Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
4) Medicines Optimisation Innovation Centre, Antrim, Northern Ireland
Clinical pharmacy services are poorly developed in Central and Eastern Europe [1]. One of the consequences of this fact is that medication adherence remains insufficiently addressed in these countries. This leads to poorer health outcomes, preventable hospitalisations, and significant costs. In Poland, legislative change is needed to introduce such services, but decisions require solid evidence. Therefore, a pilot clinical pharmacists’ service was launched to provide an objective assessment of its value.
A pilot randomised controlled trial was carried out at the Regional Specialist Hospital in Wroclaw. Patients admitted to vascular and general surgery wards were assigned to either standard care or an integrated medicines management (IMM) service. The IMM model comprised medicines reconciliation and review at admission, inpatient monitoring and counselling, and reconciliation with education at discharge, followed by post-discharge follow-up at 1, 3, and 6 months.
Sixty patients were randomised, and 58 completed follow-up. Clinical pharmacists identified drug related problems, intervened, and collaborated with physicians to optimise pharmacotherapy. Outcomes included unplanned healthcare visits, length of stay, appropriateness of treatment, and economic impact.
Patients in the IMM group had significantly fewer additional healthcare visits (6 vs. 39; p<0.05) and shorter hospital stays (median 5 vs. 7 days; p=0.0372). Pharmacists identified 273 drug- related problems, and all interventions were accepted by physicians. Medication appropriateness improved markedly during hospitalisation. Economic analyses showed substantial savings through reduced hospitalisations, shorter stays, and optimised treatment, with a favourable cost–benefit ratio. Patients and healthcare professionals valued the service positively.
The pilot demonstrated clinical, economic, and organisational benefits of pharmacist-led services in Poland. These results confirmed their feasibility and relevance. The findings are currently being used by the Parliamentary Group for Improving Medication Adherence. There is an intention to incorporate the services of clinical pharmacists into the national strategy for the management of medication adherence currently being designed in Poland. Proposed legislative alterations are expected to create political and professional momentum to scale up the initiative nationally.
Education and Research
Dr Fernando Perez
Connor Thompson-Poole
Dr Konnie Basu
Recent changes in UK pharmacy education standards by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) have emphasised the need for pharmacists to graduate with the confidence and competence to undertake independent prescribing roles. This requires proficiency in physical assessment and diagnostic skills, traditionally outside the scope of undergraduate pharmacy education. To address this gap, the University of Brighton has integrated a structured simulation-based physical assessment training package into the MPharm curriculum, preparing future pharmacists for enhanced clinical responsibility and interprofessional practice.
A series of simulated physical assessment sessions was introduced across all years of the MPharm programme. The training focuses on developing students’ competence and confidence in performing fundamental physical assessment techniques, including cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and neurological examinations, as well as accurate recording and interpretation of vital signs through a spiralled curriculum over the course of four years.
The simulation package was designed collaboratively by clinical academic staff and prescribing pharmacists, supported by colleagues from medicine and nursing to ensure cross-disciplinary alignment. Each session was structured around case-based clinical scenarios, encouraging students to follow a patient’s journey through different healthcare settings.
Sessions were delivered in the university’s clinical simulation suites using simulated patients, high-fidelity manikins, and digital monitoring tools. Each workshop included a short demonstration, guided practice, peer feedback, and reflection activities. Students benefit from this approach as they can individually work through real clinical scenarios, which better prepares them for future independent clinical practice.
Student learning was assessed through Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) and reflective portfolios. Staff feedback and student evaluations were collected to guide ongoing improvement.
Over two academic years, over 400 pharmacy students have participated in the programme. Student feedback indicates a marked increase in self-reported confidence in patient examination, clinical communication, and integration of physical findings into clinical reasoning. Staff observed improved engagement and enhanced preparedness for prescribing training. The initiative has also fostered stronger collaboration across disciplines.
Future plans include developing interprofessional simulation days with medical and nursing students, and exploring digital tools for remote clinical assessment practice. The model demonstrates a scalable and sustainable approach to embedding clinical examination competence within undergraduate pharmacy education.
Clinical Pharmacy Services
M.Sc.Pharm., Hanne Fischer; M.Sc.Pharm., Sarah Daaskov Egelund; M.Sc.Pharm., Amalie Bruno-Johansen; Cand.Med. Rune Pihl; M.Sc.Pharm., Ph.D., Charlotte Vermehren.
Deprescribing for older patients is proposed to mitigate the risks of harm associated with polypharmacy. Deprescribing initiated in the ED is effective only if maintained across healthcare sectors with patient adherence. Some ED pharmacists in Denmark have the authority to approve medication changes in electronic records, potentially enhancing implementation. We aimed to elucidate the degree of implementation of recommended deprescribing interventions across sectors for older patients, facilitated by ED pharmacists. Additionally, we explored differences in implementation based on whether deprescribing was authorized by pharmacists or delegated to an ED doctor or general practitioner (GP).
The pilot study was conducted to explore the recommendation and implementation of deprescribing for older patients across sectors, facilitated by pharmacists in a Danish Emergency Department (ED).
Pharmacists initiated deprescribing interventions, ensured consensus with the patient and/or ED doctor, respectively, and were assigned responsibility for authorizing medication changes. Pharmacists checked for implementation in the shared medication record (FMK) after 14 and 30 days and contacted, if possible, self-administrated patients 14 days post-discharge to assess adherence. The following were registered:
• Who held the responsibility to authorize?
• What kind of medication was deprescribed?
• To what extent were the changes implemented in FMK after 14 and 30 days?
• What was the adherence for the contacted patients?
The study involved pharmacist-led interventions for 39 patients. Twenty-three patients (59%) had their change implemented in FMK after 14 days. Two more patients had their FMK changed between day 14 and day 30. Changes authorized by a pharmacist (nine patients) resulted in an implementation rate of 100%, whereas it was 62% and 27% respectively when delegated to the ED doctor (20 patients) or GP (11 patients). Ten patients were contacted, of which seven confirmed adherences. The deprescribed medication included 43 drugs, corresponding to 35 different generic drugs.
Pharmacist-led interventions in the ED improve implementation of deprescribing across care transitions. When pharmacists are authorized to make changes themselves rather than delegate to an ED or GP, the degree of implementation may increase. This finding supports the involvement of clinical pharmacists in the ED to promote more extensive deprescribing in clinical practice.
| RISK ASSESSMENT OF STERILE PREPARATIONS PERFORMED IN THE HOSPITAL PHARMACY SERVICE |
Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
A. HERREROS FERNÁNDEZ, P. FERNÁNDEZ-VILLACAÑAS FERNÁNDEZ, R. AÑEZ CASTAÑO, P. ORTIZ FERNÁNDEZ, M.A. MEROÑO SAURA, I. GARCÍA MASEGOSA, R. GUZMÁN LAIZ, P. SELVI SABATER, C. CABALLERO REQUEJO, L. RENTERO REDONDO, E. URBIETA SANZ.
The preparation of sterile magistral formulas involves significant risks due to complex processes, material handling, and sterility requirements. A systematic risk assessment was essential to identify vulnerabilities, classify risk levels, and implement preventive measures to improve safety and compliance with regulatory standards.
Sterile magistral formulas are personalized medications prepared in hospital pharmacy services to meet individual patient needs. In 2023, a risk matrix was implemented to systematically evaluate the risks associated with their preparation. This initiative aimed to enhance patient safety and ensure compliance with the “Guide to Good Practices for the Preparation of Medications in Hospital Pharmacy Services” (GGP).
Sterile magistral formulas prepared in the pharmacotechnics area of a hospital during 2023 were identified from a Microsoft Access® database. A Microsoft Excel® database was specifically designed to apply the GGP-based risk matrix, categorizing formulas into low, medium, or high risk. Each formula was evaluated across six key criteria: preparation process, route of administration, drug safety profile, number of units prepared, preparation vulnerabilities, and distribution process. Risk levels were assigned using a combination of letters (A-D) based on the matrix. Challenges included standardizing data collection and ensuring multidisciplinary collaboration to refine the matrix and ensure its applicability.
A total of 80 sterile magistral formulas were assessed. Of these, 38.75% were classified as medium risk, 36.25% as high risk, and 25% as low risk. Among medium-risk formulas, 67.7% included a “C” in the matrix, while 96.6% of high-risk formulas contained at least one “D.” The most frequent risk combinations were “BBAAAA” (11.25%) and “BBBAAA” (10%). The preparation process and administration route were the primary contributors to overall risk. Medium- and high-risk formulas, primarily intravenous mixtures of antibiotics and biological drugs, required preparation in a cleanroom environment, as recommended by the GGP.
This initiative demonstrated the value of a risk matrix in identifying and managing risks in the preparation of sterile magistral formulas. It represents a best practice model with significant potential for adaptation in other healthcare settings, enhancing patient safety and standardizing risk management in hospital pharmacy operations.
Clinical Pharmacy Services
Xabier Larrea Urtaran, Elisabet Nogué Pujadas, Alba Couso Cruz, Guillem Pla Escriva, Carol Batlle Perales, Carla Subirana Batlle, MIreia Bruguera Teixidor, Carmen Ortí Juan, Anna Dordà Benito, Mireia Vila Curris
The aim of the study is to analyze pharmaceutical interventions (PI) carried out by a hospital pharmacist in a Resuscitation Unit (RU) in terms of number and degree of acceptance.
The integration of a pharmacist in the critical care unit allows optimizing pharmacotherapy, prevent s medication errors in critical patients and working in a multidisciplinary methodology .
It is a prospective study carried out from 1 August 23 to 15 September 23 on weekdays, in which patients with a minimum of 48 hours of admission were included, recording the PIs conducted during the daily clinical activity of a pharmacist at the RU. The variables collected were: age, sex, type of PI, medication involved, acceptance of PI and day since admission. The percentage of acceptance of the PIs and activity indices (PI/patient, PI/days and day of PI in respect to admission to the RU were calculated. For the descriptive analysis, the means and standard deviation (SD) were used.
80 patients were included during a total of 31 weekdays, mean age ± SD of 59.6 ± 18.4, 46.3% were women (n=37). Patients had 8.9 ± 3.0 drug prescriptions and 3.8 ± 2.0 infusions and on-demand drugs. There were 5.9 patients admitted per day in the RU .107 IPs were carried out, with activity indices of 1.3 IP/patient, 3.45 IP/day and 3.21 IP days compared to admission to the RU.
The groups of drugs with the highest IP were: anti-infective agents for systemic use (n=57), blood and hematopoietic organs (n=17) and nervous system (n=15).
The interventions carried out were: adjustment of anti-infective therapy (n=21); pharmacokinetic adjustment (n=18); administration (n=17); conciliation (n=16); dose adjustment by glomerular filtration rate (n=16); dose adjustment (n=10); duplicity (n=5); no need (n=2); compounding (n=1) and allergy (n=1).
The degree of acceptance of the IP was 92.5% (n=99).
The acceptance of PIs in the RU is very high , being greater than 90%, with an activity of more than 3 PIs per day, reinforces the integration of a hospital pharmacist in a multidisciplinary team to ensure patient safety and improve the pharmacotherapeutic profile. It is necessary to have a pharmacists integrate in the RU.
Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
Lene Juhl Biltsted, Louise Stilling Rasmussen
In Denmark, patients with schizophrenia receive free antipsychotic medication for the initial two years post-diagnosis. Post this period, patients transition to the primary sector and assume the medication costs. Historically, the clinic dispensed larger medication quantities, offering short-term relief but not addressing the issue. This approach risks medication waste. The new workflows empower healthcare professionals to help patients establish stable financial arrangements with local pharmacies, curbing fluctuating medication expenses. This enhances patient safety by reducing at-home medication stockpiles. Financial barriers often undermine patient compliance. Healthcare professionals strive to aid patients, curbing relapses and readmissions, through rational, sustainable medication management that minimises resource wastage.
Training improved healthcare professional’s understanding of the Danish medication subsidy system and options for deferment in the primary sector.
The healthcare professionals’ new knowledge has provided the foundation for the development of optimised workflows in the treatment process, ensuring a more sustainable medication management during the transition to the primary sector. The project establishes the framework for reducing the risk of medication waste upon the patient’s completion of treatment at the clinic.
It also created a favourable setting for healthcare providers to collaborate with patients, enhancing adherence.
Healthcare professionals received training on deferment arrangements, subsidies, and compliance, with supervision from clinical pharmacists.
Patient cases were analysed to determine factors for future guidelines.
Guidelines were formulated to aid healthcare professionals during the patients’ transition to the primary sector.
A tool (calculator) was created for assessing the patients’ economic choices regarding medication expenses.
Healthcare professionals gained confidence in guiding patients on stable medication expenses.
Enhanced rational and sustainable medication use by incorporating the seven rights.
New guidelines now allow an appropriate quality assurance strategy to ensure sustainability and adherence.
Tool to assess medication costs which improves the patients adherence in the sector transition.
Lowered risk of over/under treatment and improper storage.
Diminished treatment failure risk by predicting patient medication expenses during the primary sector transition
In the next 6 months, the clinic will trial the established guidelines and routines with patients concluding their 2-year treatment.
Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
Joana Pinto, José Feio, Sebastião Silva, Francisco Machado, Ana Dinis, Margarida Abreu, João Peres, Mariana Guia
Clinical decision support systems comprising information on DDI improve DDI risk detection, avoiding preventable patient harm. The resulting DDI alerts can change prescribers’ behaviour to benefit patient care. However, an excessive number of alerts can lead to alerts’ desensitisation by prescribers.
We monitored the drug-drug interactions (DDI) alerts displayed in the prescription system through three subsequent homologous periods, occurring after the integration of a DDI database in the prescribing software system of a teaching hospital to assess its impact on the prescribing pattern.
We developed a DDI database – MedH® – to be integrated into the prescribing software system to support hard stop DDI alerts. only the higher clinical risk DDIs were included in this database in order to restrain the burden of alerts and warrant acceptance by health professionals.
Data of all inpatient hospital prescriptions over a 12-month period prior to MedH® implementation were extracted and intersected with MedH® DDI BD to identify the top 10 co-prescribed binomials at risk of severe DDI. The number of alerts for the same binomials was then monitored through three subsequent, post-implementation, homologous periods.
Considered the TOP10 observed in the pre-implementation period, the number of alerts for all binomials has consistently reduced over the three post-implementation periods analysed.
The integration of MedH® DDI BD into the prescribing system, resulted in changes in the prescribing pattern, translated by a decrease, between 67% and 100%, in the number of alerts for a sample of control risk binomials coinciding with the top 10 co-prescribed risk binomials observed in the pre-implementation period. These results reflect the good acceptance by the professionals and the didactic effect achieved by the exposure to alerts.
More importantly, these results are indicative of the effectiveness of the implementation of MedH® Alerts in reducing patient exposure to high-risk combinations of medicines, thus promoting patient safety.
It will be important to ensure that data from IDD alerts are rigorously analysed to recognise clinical situations in which the co-administration of risk binomials is justified, to ensure consistent application of recommended risk minimisation measures, and the availability of safer therapeutic alternatives whenever possible.
Education and Research
Omar HANAFIA, Pierre BERTAULT-PERES, Stéphane HONORE
This internship was proposed to diversify the clinical pharmacy internship opportunities and to allow students to discover and understand paediatrics and intensive care, which are less covered in university courses. It will also be a proof of concept to develop this type of internship in other departments.
We have proposed a new clinical pharmacy internship in immersion in paediatric intensive care to 5th year students. It is a hospital internship at the interface between the medical and pharmaceutical teams, the student is responsible for establishing a statement to analyse the drug management, its evaluation and improvement.
The clinical pharmacy student is a full-time employee, fully integrated into the medical team. Their day is divided into two parts: in the morning they attend the relief, the staff and the medical visit. In the afternoon, he/she takes over the patients, compiles the main medical, clinical and biological information in order to pharmaceutically prevalidate the medical prescriptions and propose pharmaceutical interventions (PI) to the pharmacist.
Since its opening, the position has been systematically chosen by the students, in 3 years 8 students have chosen it. After a training period of 1 month with the senior pharmacist, all students were able to perform the expected readings, prevalidation and PI. More than 78% of the PIs detected by the students were validated by the senior pharmacist and accepted by the physician.
This proof of concept shows that students are supportive of this type of initiative and are able to meet the high expectations of this internship.
Selection, Procurement and Distribution
Ariadna Martin Torrente , Itziar Palacios Zabalza, María Olatz Ibarra Barrueta, Maialen Palacios Filardo, Garazi Miron Elorriaga
To optimise the functioning and the management of the procedures and an accessible and effective communication system in the PS. Moreover, the quality of the shipment is guaranteed all the time. The development of a circuit has allowed being faster and more efficient during its preparation than before.
Establishing the circuit of execution, preparation, distribution, and delivery of medicine to Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) from the Pharmaceutical Service (PS) of a tertiary hospital in the Basque Country (Spain). The circuit has been designed taking into account the criteria in a context of humanitarian donations, published and updated by the Spanish Agency of Drugs and Sanitary Products (AEMPS) on 16 March 2022
Since it has been included in the daily activity of the service it has cause and increase its amount of work, hence, daily routine tasks have been slowed down, given the increase of petitions the hospital has had during last year. However, its creation has allowed being faster and more efficient during its preparation.
The circuit begins with the request of NGO, which has to be authorised by the hospital’s directory. Then, in the procedure participate pharmacists; pharmacy technicians and office clerks who prepare the donation rely on the personalised list that the donation has created. Once, the necessary documents are filled out and they are sent to the AEMPS.
From November 2021 to September 2022, 7 donations have been carried out; these contained 100 active ingredients, concretely 15.198 units. We could find most of them in the WHO model lists of essential medicines. The NGO’s destinations have been Guatemala, Romania, Ukraine and Senegal. The medications sent most according to the ATC classification were 21% anti-infective medicines, 17% cardiovascular, 13% nervous system, 12% systemic hormonal preparations and 3% alimentary tract and metabolism.
The project is easily enforceable in any Spanish PS that is willing to process a donation at any given occasion. Some of our ideas for the future are the creation of a standard list including common medications, avoiding personalised lists, in addition to connect it to our internal programme to be faster when preparing the donation.
