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.
Production and Compounding
Michal Kočí, Kateřina Grygarová
Individualised bacteriophage therapy has not previously been used in the Czech Republic. A polymorbid patient was treated for over two years for recurrent spondylodiscitis caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Despite various antibiotic regimens, the infection could not be controlled, leading to repeated hospitalisations. Based on international experience, the medical-head of the infectious diseases department asked the hospital pharmacy to procure a bacteriophage medicine active against the patient\’s specific pathogen.
The objective was to analyse the legislative pathway and subsequently secure approval for, prepare, and administer individualised phage therapy as a salvage treatment for a patient with a chronic, antibiotic-resistant infection.
In collaboration with the infectious disease clinic and a domestic phage manufacturer, the optimal regulatory route was identified and an approval for using the active pharmaceutical ingredient containing bacteriophage for final drug preparation was requested from the Ministry of Health and the State Institute for Drug Control. The hospital pharmacy coordinated the entire submission process, overcoming regulatory and production challenges. Following approval, the pharmacy secured the delivery and developed a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the aseptic preparation of the phage lysate for intravenous administration.
After successfully obtaining all approvals, the pharmacy prepared and dispensed 35 intravenous infusions. Following the therapy, the patient has remained symptom-free for nine months and significant clinical improvement was observed. The infection is currently considered effectively treated, and no further infection-related hospitalisations have been necessary. This outcome demonstrates the successful implementation of a complex therapeutic strategy, from regulatory navigation to clinical application.
This pioneering initiative demonstrates that individualised bacteriophage therapy might be, in some cases, a feasible and safe option for patients with untreatable, multi-resistant infections. It highlights the crucial role of the hospital pharmacist in this process. Significantly, this first-in-country application sparked a nationwide expert debate and directly contributed to the establishment of a Ministry of Health working group on bacteriophages. This established pathway could be transferable to other Czech hospitals, and possibly even to other European countries.
Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
Saúl Herrera Carranza, Carlos Sanz Sánchez, Sira Sanz Márquez, José Francisco Valverde Cánovas, Leonor Moreno Núñez, Ana Vegas Serrano, Rafael Hervás Gómez, Oriol Martín Segarra, Juan Emilio Losa García, Montserrat Pérez Encinas
Spanish Society of Hospital Pharmacy(SEFH) proposed 13 indicators(bibliography:Gutiérrez-Urbón JM, Gil-Navarro MV, Moreno-Ramos F, Núñez-Núñez M, Paño-Pardo JR, Periáñez-Párraga L. Indicators of the hospital use of antimicrobial agents based on consumption. Farm Hosp. 2019;43(3):94-100) which could help to improve the quality of antimicrobial use.
Indicators are related directly(dir): higher value-better practices; indirectly(ind):lower value-better practices; or heterogeneity: homogeneous percentages(%)-better practices.
The creation of a tool for calculating new indicators of antimicrobial agents based on consumption using Defined Daily Dose per 100 hospital stays(DDD/100s).
We built an Excel tool to input required data in order to calculate the indicators with the formulas defined for their automated estimation:
-Overall antibacterial consumption(ind)
-Overall consumption of antifungals(ind)
-Consumption of carbapenemics(ind)
-Consumption of fluoroquinolones(ind)
-Ratio macrolides-p/fluoroquinolones-p(dir)
-Ratio metronidazole-p/piperacillin-tazobactam+carbapenemics(dir)
-Fosfomycin consumption(dir)
-Sequential therapy(dir)
-Ratio anti-SRSA/anti-MRSA agents(dir)
-Ratio amoxicillin/amoxicillin-clavulanic acid(dir)
-Ratio amoxicillin-clavulanic acid/piperacillin-tazobactam(dir)
-Diversification of anti-pseudomonas beta-lactam(heterogeneity): %anti-pseudomonal carbapenemics, %piperacillin-tazobactam and %anti-pseudomonal cephalosporins+aztreonam.
— Ratio fluconazole/equinocandins (dir)
DDD/100s for the years 2018-2022 were calculated in order to see the annual evolution. Required data: antibiotic (ATC Group: J01) and antifungal (ATC Group: J02) consumption by drug and route of administration (oral (o), parenteral (p) and others). Calculation of DDD/100s according to grammes consumed (obtained with Hospital Pharmacy software) and ATC/DDD-Index (World Health Organization). To visually analyse results, graphs were included.
We realised that our hospital improved by decreasing consumption of antibacterial, antifungal, carbapenemics and fluoroquinolones; and so, an early parenteral-oral switch.
However, the other ratio-based indicators are stable or worsening yearly: macrolides-p/fluoroquinolones-p, metronidazole-p/piperacillin-tazobactam+carbapenemics, fosfomycin consumption, anti-SRSA/anti-MRSA agents, amoxicillin/amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid/piperacillin-tazobactam, fluconazole/equinocandins and diversification of anti-pseudomonas beta-lactam.
These indicators provide possible improvement actions to enhance the use of antimicrobial agents. Consumption of fosfomycin or amoxicillin/amoxicillin-clavulanic acid ratio should be cautiously analysed due to outpatient (or in emergencies) management of uncomplicated infections. As improvement actions in our hospital, increase the use of metronidazole-p in anaerobic infections or cloxacillin and cefazolin de-escalation can be promoted as soon as sensitivity is confirmed by antibiogram-test. Diversify antibiotic pressure on pseudomonas, trying to reduce piperacillin-tazobactam by prescribing ceftazidime or cefepime, and reserving aztreonam for beta-lactams allergics. Similarly, decrease piperacillin-tazobactam use by prescribing amoxicillin-clavulanic acid if anti-pseudomonal coverage is not necessary.
Clinical Pharmacy Services
CLARA NOTARIO DONGIL, ALEJANDRO MARCOS DE LA TORRE, MARÍA CARMEN CONDE GARCÍA, MARÍA MAR ALAÑÓN PARDO, BEATRIZ PROY VEGA, NATALIA ANDRÉS NAVARRO
Most of the cultures performed in outpatients were not reviewed or were reviewed too late. An early detection for an adequate control of multidrug-resistant bacteria and the setting of a targeted antibiotic treatment, in case of being necessary, was the aim of this project. Hence basis for the implementation of an ASP is laid down, giving also advice to medical staff regarding appropriate antibiotic treatments.
Multiresistant bacteria containment is a public health priority. Antibiotic Stewardship Programs (ASPs) can help to enhance patient outcomes by improving antibiotic prescribing. ASPs are common in hospitals, but are not usually available in primary care.
1- A circuit between microbiology laboratory staff, preventive medicine and pharmacy service was done. The first two collaborated by presenting data from lab results.
2- Cultures of multidrug-resistant species of outpatients were included. Results were interpreted by a hospital pharmacist on a daily basis.
3- A circuit of telephone calls between pharmacy and primary care was settled in order to communicate high epidemiological impact species detected. Pharmacist collaborates by giving advice regarding the right drug, right dose and right time, only when antibiotic treatment was necessary. Reports were registered on the medical history.
4- Variables collected in database were: age, sex, institutionalized, antibiotics received, kidney disease, culture type, specie.
During five months, 52 patients were included (52% male, 48% female). Mean age: 68 years. 11% institutionalized patients. 31% presented kidney disease.
Urine culture (58%),skin culture (13%), bronchial/sputum culture (12%), stool culture (12%), , and other cultures (5%) were analysed. Multidrug-resistant species (spp) were: Klebsiella spp (34%); Pseudomonas spp (8%); Mycobacterium spp (6%); other spp (52%).
17 pharmacist interventions were carried out, all of them related to appropriated treatment. 2 patients were hospitalized in order to receive parenteral antibiotic.
Optimizing antibiotics use is important to effectively treat infections. Identifying species that generate therapeutic difficulties is essential. Pharmacist advice could reduce treatment failures applying efforts to improve antibiotic use, being link of union between hospital and primary care. Other activities such as providing training to medical staff or spread results regarding to the use of antibiotics will be critical for ASP development.
