EAHP represents over 29,000 hospital pharmacists across 36 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 professionals.
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 of Germany 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.
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.
Sponsor Channel
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
Emma Pinet, Lionel Barty, Anne Blandine Bouvrain, Françoise Le Cheviller, Nicolas Vaillant, Nathalie Jourdan, Hélène Sauvageon, Isabelle Madelaine
In order to make hospital preparations in advance and optimize costs, a physicochemical and biological stability study was conducted in the pharmaceutical control laboratory.
Mogamulizumab is a monoclonal antibody used in the treatment of Sezary syndrome and mycosis fungoides. The dilution of the 4 mg/ml vial of Poteligeo® in the infusion bag is stable for 24 hours at room temperature between 0.1 to 3 mg/ml.
Four bags of mogamulizumab were prepared in 0.9% NaCl 250 ml (2 at 0.14 mg/ml, 2 at 0.34 mg/ml). Each dilution is evaluated at 20±5°C and at 5±3°C, protected from light for 28 days. Analyses are performed in triplicate by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC-UV) associated with Chromeleon™ software. Concentrations are measured by HPLC after Flow Injection Analysis (FIA). Physical stability is studied by searching for IgG aggregates by Steric Exclusion Chromatography (Biozen™SEC3 column, 1.8µm 300*4.6mm). Chemical stability is evaluated by assessing acidic and basic variants proportions of the antibody by Cation Exchange Chromatography (CEC) (Biozen™WCX column, 6µm 250*4.6mm). Biological activity is determined by evaluation of the different glycoforms, by affinity chromatography (FcyRIIIa column, 5µm 75*4.6mm Tosoh®). The microbiological stability is performed by seeding the diluted solution on chocolate agar and brain heart broth.
At D28, the quantitative determination of mogamulizumab by FIA showed a deviation of less than 10% compared to theoretical concentrations. No aggregates or antibody fragments were found. The proportion of acidic, basic variants and of the main peak did not deviate by more than 5% compared to D0. For all infusion-bags studied by CEC, the main peak rates were between 79.1% and 85.8%, the acidic variant rates between 6.7% and 9.9% and the basic variant rates between 7.8% and 11.2%. The proportion of each antibody species (low, medium, high affinity) did not deviate by 5% from D0. The low affinity rate is between 48.2% and 52.7%, medium between 39.6% and 44.8% and high between 6.9% and 7.9%. No colonies were found on chocolate agar and heart-brain broth.
Mogamulizumab is physically, chemically and biologically stable for 28 days in diluted solution between 0.14 mg/L and 0.41 mg/L at 5°C and 20°C.
Production and Compounding
María Molinero, Virginia Puebla, Cristina González, Lidia Ybáñez, Gonzalo Hernando, Natalia Sánchez-Ocaña, Javier Corazón, María de la Torre, Jose Manuel Martínez
This technique provides autonomy to the patient allowing to adjust the dose based on the intensity of pain. It has been demonstrated that small on-demand doses of analgesia provide a reduction in the final dose, thus reducing side effects. In addition, by minimizing the possible delay in the administration of analgesia, the anxiety associated with pain and exacerbations is reduced.
Hospital Pharmacy Service in collaboration with Acute Pain Unit has developed a protocol for an analgesic mixture for intravenous administration in continuous infusion based on tramadol, dexketoprofen and haloperidol. It is a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) administered by pump for the treatment of acute postoperative pain.
We performed a bibliographic search of stability studies in order to standardize the analgesic mixture, guaranteeing its physical-chemical and microbiological stability.
A mixture of 600mg tramadol, 300mg dexketoprofen and 5mg haloperidol was prepared and it was filtered through a 5-micron filter. It was diluted in 100mL of 0.9% sodium chloride, obtaining a mixture of 125mL. It was sealed and bagged in a photoprotective bag. After the bibliographic search on stability data and physical-chemical compatibility of the mixture, a stability of 14 days at 2-8 ºC was established. Once elaborated, quality control was performed by gravimetry. It was dispensed weekly by stock to the post-anesthesia resuscitation unit. The established perfusion rate is 1.3 mL/h or 1.7 mL/h for 48h. With each rescue, 8mg of tramadol and 4mg of dexketoprofen are released per hour or 4mg and 2mg every 30min, respectively. The maximum dose that can be administered is 400mg tramadol, 150mg dexketoprofen and 2mg haloperidol, except if the patient weighs less than 50kg: 8mg/kg tramadol. If renal insufficiency, dose adjustment was mandatory.
The centralization of the preparation of intravenous admixtures from the pharmacy service allow us to adjust the expiry date based on stability studies reported in the literature, to maintain the asepsis of the mixture as it is prepared in horizontal laminar flow cabinets, to increase the safety and to secure the traceability.
Production and Compounding
María Lourdes Recio Blázquez, José Manuel Martínez Sesmero, Lidia Ybáñez García, Gonzalo Hernando Llorente, María Molinero Muñoz
The purpose is to control two environmental conditions to guarantee the comfort of the workforce and the quality of the finished product quality. 519,321 SODFs have been repackaged in unit doses last year. The 8% of the SODFs come from multidose containers that have been exposed to environmental temperature and humidity during this process. Employees have been exposed to identical conditions.
A temperature (t) and relative humidity (RH) control system has been established in the enclosure where the solid oral dosage forms (SODFs) are packaged in unit doses.
Among the diversity of hygrometric sensors commercialised, a device equipped with a condenser was chosen. The operation is based on modifying the capacity when varying the dielectric constant of the medium, in this case, due to varying the amount of water contained in the air between the plates. – C = ε A / D – C: capacity value. – ε: dielectric constant. – A: area of the condenser plates. – D: distance between the condenser plates. The device also incorporates a temperature sensor. The t (ºC) and RH of each moment are shown, for visual inspection, on the device screen. The data obtained with certain time frequency can be stored on a Secure Digital memory card and be downloaded on a computer that has that program installed (on spreadsheet format) helping to obtain graphics as well.
The range of t (ºC) has remained stable between 26 and 24ºC for 6 months, with minimal variations from maximum 28.5ºC to minimum 23.4ºC. The UNE 100713: 2005 is met. RH has been below 45% during 68% of the days worked, which has favored the repackaging of the units affected by humidity but not the worker. The range of RH has varied between 56.3% and 23.6%, not complying with the UNE 100713: 2005 standard.
Metabolic rate, clothing insulation, air temperature, radiant temperature, air speed and humidity shall be addressed when defining conditions for acceptable thermal comfort. It would be helpful to regulate the commercialisation of multidose pharmaceutical specialties susceptible to deterioration when opening the package.
Selection, Procurement and Distribution
Ismail Bennani, Amine Cheikh, Hafid Mefetah, Mustapha Bouatia
The strict control of medicines cold chain is linked to a triple risk for a hospital: a risk for the patient through the efficiency and safety of the drug, a financial risk, and a regulatory risk.
Our study aimed to map the process of management of medicines requiring a strict cold chain control at a referral pediatric hospital and to identify the critical points associated to this process in order to realize a risk analysis using the FMEA method
The method used is FMEA for a priori inductive risk analysis which aims to identify potential system failures. These failures are analyzed to determine their criticality by establishing an index for each failure that will be scored and calculated using the formula: Criticality index = frequency × severity × detectability.
The rating of each criterion is based on predetermined rating tables.
Process Mapping: The mapping of the process allowed identify 7 major actors: the supplier, the general store, the logistics platform for product reception, the transportation, the logistics department of hospital, the pharmacy and the patient.
Identification of the critical points: All failures modes that were ranked between 201 and 504 on criticality index are considered as main critical points:
Problem of breakdown of electricity and its management: 504
Respect of the cold chain at the level of the care services until administration: 448
Temperature indicators at the level of care services: 384
Conditions of transportation: 315
Temperature monitoring at pharmacy level: means and management: 245
Logistics agents transport time management: 210
Implementation of improvement actions: Corrective and preventive improvement measures have been defined and implemented, such as: setting up alternatives to power outages, periodic temperature assessments at all critical levels, and integration of remote control and monitoring computer devices.
The continuous improvement of the medicines’ cold chain remains an important topic for the institutions in view of the overall risks associated with the quality of these medicines, therefore to the medical treatment of the patient.
Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
MERCEDES GIMENO-GRACIA, TRANSITO SALVADOR-GOMEZ, ROSA MARECA, JOSE IGNACIO GARCIA-MONTERO, MIGUEL ANGEL SALVO, PILAR ABAD, BEATRIZ ABAD, CESAR VELASCO
The Spanish Agency of Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) issues drug and health product-related alerts to the health centres through each region’s Department of Health. The means through which said alerts reach the health professional is not always adequate. The procedures for alert dissemination in our hospital hadn’t been standardized yet: some professionals were alerted more tan once while others weren’t alerted at all. Furthermore, there was no record of these alerts
We developed a safety alert management and dissemination system implementation in a hospital setting.
In April 2014, a multidisciplinary workgroup was established (3 members of the Preventive Medicine Service, 2 pharmacists, 2 members of the Supplies Service, 2 computer technicians and 2 members of the hospital’s Management) to analyse management and dissemination of alerts within the hospital at that time. Safety alerts can attain to different elements: drugs, medical devices and public health. Throughout 2015 new circuits and actions were established and in 2016 their implementation was initiated.
The workgroup held 7 meetings from April 2014 to June 2016. The project started focusing on drug-related alerts. An algorithm was designed to handle them, in which a pharmacist filtered the alerts (via e-mail) and assessed which had to be spread, and among which professionals. Additionally, the pharmacist managed the alert. The dissemination worked as follows: from the Pharmacy Service to Medical or Nursing Directors, who spread the message to the different units recommended by pharmacist, specifically to their respective Manager, Tutor of Residents and Quality Manager. All alerts were recorded in a database, along with how they were handled.
From January to June of 2016, a total of 235 drug-related alerts were sent from AEMPS. The dissemination was as follows: 44.3% (104) were spread among pharmacists, 36.6% among doctors, 5.5% among nurses and 9.4% to other professionals. The types of drug-alert received were classified as: supply problems (84.7%), use recommendations (7.2%), quality alerts (7.7%) and others (0.5%).
Next step is implantation of this alert management system with medical devices alerts and public health alerts.
