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.
Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
Christina Theil Schnor and Saranya Loganathan.
In 2018, hospitals in Region Zealand (RZ), Denmark, transitioned to the electronic health record (EHR) system, EPIC. Following this, hospital pharmacists faced repeated medication order challenges causing adverse events such as inappropriate medication orders, dispensing and administration errors, and insufficient workflow coordination. These issues resulted in complex, time-consuming workflows impacting quality and patient safety. Additionally, collaboration between corporate IT and clinical staff was challenged by a lack of understanding of practical issues. To address this, pharmacists of RZ established the Clinical Pharmaceutical Service IT Team (CPS IT Team) to build specialized knowledge of the EHR medication module, aiming to assure quality, optimize workflows, strengthen interdisciplinary coordination, and support safer and more efficient clinical use.
CPS IT Team standardized workflows, enhanced coordination of medication order tasks, and created a forum to effectively utilize professional knowledge and networks across areas.
To address diverse Clinical Pharmacy challenges, CPS IT Team became the bridge between internal organization (RZ Hospital Pharmacy and corporate IT) and external partners (EPIC and The Capital Region of Denmark (CRD)). For this reason, CPS IT Team was established with one team manager and two units: Internal and External unit. CPS IT Team continuously adapts to evolving Clinical Pharmacy needs.
The establishment of CPS IT Team has driven significant internal optimization and standardized workflows. Acting as a coordinating unit, it optimizes medication processes from ordering to dispensing and administration. Dialogue with IT has been strengthened, enabling more efficient, targeted communication across professional groups.
Collaboration with EPIC and CRD has enhanced quality assurance and optimized workflows. CPS IT Team efforts have helped prevent medication-related adverse events, improve workflows, and optimize medication processes. Interdisciplinary collaboration and professional consultation networks between regional clinics, hospital pharmacies, IT, and EPIC have been notably strengthened. These efforts have increased patient safety and fostered a safer, more coherent workflow in EPIC.
Fusion of RZ and CRD into Region Eastern Denmark will change CPS IT Team’s working conditions, opening new opportunities such as an expanded collegial network and broader range of tasks and needs. Systematic data use will support Hospital Pharmacy’s work, improving efficiency and quality in daily operations.
Clinical Pharmacy Services
Fajfarić Petković Maja, Vilić Katarina, Kuruc Poje Darija
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global public health problem, associated with prolonged illness, increased transmission, extended hospitalization, higher treatment costs, and greater mortality. Although clinical pharmacists have been shown to play an important role in antimicrobial stewardship, data from southeastern Europe, including Croatia, are scarce.
The aim was to assess the role of clinical pharmacist in pharmacotherapy management of patients receiving antimicrobial therapy.
A retrospective observational study was conducted in the period from 1st January 2018 to 31st December 2024. Data included adult patients treated with reserve antibiotics evaluated by an antimicrobial stewardship team (A-team), composed of infectious disease specialist, a clinical microbiologist and a clinical pharmacist. Collected data were patient characteristics, hospital wards where antimicrobial therapy was prescribed, indications for reserve antibiotics and the pharmacists interventions, including clinically significant drug interactions (categories X and D, UpToDate®). Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data.
Between 2018 and 2024, the number of hospitalized adults receiving reserve antibiotics increased – from 492 to 798, with mean age rising from 68 to 70 years. Most patients (71-92%) had associated comorbidities and reserve antibiotics were predominately prescribed in internal medicine departments, most often for bacterial pneumonia. Pharmacist interventions increased: dose adjustments for renal/hepatic impairment – from 10 in 2018 to 116 in 2024, consultations on preparation, stability, storage, and administration of parenteral antibiotics – from 2 in 2018 to 731 in 2024. Clinically significant drug interactions (categories X and D) decreased over time from 52 interactions in 2018 to 17 interactions in 2024. The most common drugs involved were promazine, furosemide, indapamide, ciprofloxacin, piperacillin+tazobactam, clozapine, metoclopramide and amikacin.
Findings suggest increased physician awareness of clinically significant drug interactions in patients with multiple comorbidities and underscore the recognized role of clinical pharmacist within a multidisciplinary team. Their integration into multidisciplinary antimicrobial stewardship teams improves patient safety, reduces adverse effects, and promotes rational antimicrobial use.
Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
IOANNIDIS KONSTANTINOS
SCARLATINIS IOANNIS
KORRE OURANIA
BOTSIOU MARIA
NIKOLAOU KATERINA – ANGELIKI
The integration of clinical pharmacists in oncology settings plays a critical role in ensuring the safe and effective administration of chemotherapeutic agents. At Hygeia Hospital, over the past five years, clinical pharmacists have identified and prevented 1,272 chemotherapy-related medication errors, corresponding to 2.4 errors per 100 chemotherapy days. Despite this substantial contribution, challenges persist in the administration process by nursing staff, particularly regarding infusion parameters. Common errors include incorrect infusion rates and the omission or improper use of required filters and light-sensitive infusion sets, and their prevention remains a persistent challenge.
To mitigate these risks, Hygeia Hospital has implemented parameterized electronic infusion pumps as an additional safety mechanism.
These pumps are pre-programmed by clinical pharmacists with non-modifiable infusion time limits for each chemotherapeutic agent, preventing unauthorized alterations by nursing personnel. Furthermore, the pumps provide mandatory prompts regarding the use of filters or/and light sensitive infusion sets, as specified in the Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) of each drug.
Since their introduction one year ago, these infusion pumps have facilitated the identification and correction of previously undetectable administration errors, with an observed rate of 0.15 errors per 100 chemotherapy days. The majority of these involved incorrect selection of infusion duration by nursing staff. These findings underscore the value of pump parameterization in uncovering latent errors and reinforcing adherence to safe administration practices.
Future steps include expanding the use of parametrized infusion pumps beyond oncology to other high-risk areas, such as intensive care units, where precise and safe administration is equally critical. By reducing reliance on manual intervention and standardizing administration protocols, this approach enhances the overall safety and efficacy of drug delivery across multiple clinical settings.
Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
IOANNIDIS KONSTANTINOS
SCARLATINIS IOANNIS
KORRE OURANIA
BOTSIOU MARIA
NIKOLAOU KATERINA-ANGELIKI
The integration of clinical pharmacists in oncology settings plays a critical role in ensuring the safe and effective administration of chemotherapeutic agents. At Hygeia Hospital, over the past five years, clinical pharmacists have identified and prevented 1,272 chemotherapy-related medication errors, corresponding to 2.4 errors per 100 chemotherapy days. Despite this substantial contribution, challenges persist in the administration process by nursing staff, particularly regarding infusion parameters. Common errors include incorrect infusion rates and the omission or improper use of required filters and light-sensitive infusion sets, and their prevention remains a persistent challenge.
To mitigate these risks, Hygeia Hospital has implemented parameterized electronic infusion pumps as an additional safety mechanism.
These pumps are pre-programmed by clinical pharmacists with non-modifiable infusion time limits for each chemotherapeutic agent, preventing unauthorized alterations by nursing personnel. Furthermore, the pumps provide mandatory prompts regarding the use of filters or/and light sensitive infusion sets, as specified in the Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) of each drug.
Since their introduction one year ago, these infusion pumps have facilitated the identification and correction of previously undetectable administration errors, with an observed rate of 0.15 errors per 100 chemotherapy days. The majority of these involved incorrect selection of infusion duration by nursing staff. These findings underscore the value of pump parameterization in uncovering latent errors and reinforcing adherence to safe administration practices.
Future steps include expanding the use of parametrized infusion pumps beyond oncology to other high-risk areas, such as intensive care units, where precise and safe administration is equally critical. By reducing reliance on manual intervention and standardizing administration protocols, this approach enhances the overall safety and efficacy of drug delivery across multiple clinical settings.
Production and Compounding
Esperanza Nieto Mártil
Alicia Abril Cabero
José Antonio Hernández Ramos
Isabel García López
Belén Riva de la Hoz
Esther Algarra Sánchez
Luis Fernández Romero
Marta Echávarri de Miguel
Beatriz Leal Pino
Alejandra Merino Pardo
Maite Pozas del Río
Paediatric PN requires highly precise and methodical preparation due to its narrow safety margins. For this population very small volumes are handled, thus small deviations in added volumes might have a substantial impact, including clinically significant consequences.
Although gravimetric and volumetric control has shown to provide a rapid and cost-saving tool to detect discrepancies, there are no specific publications evaluating its optimality in the context of paediatric PN. Therefore, its assessment in a paediatric setting is essential to ensure the quality of the compounding process.
To analyze the results of gravimetric and volumetric control applied to parenteral nutrition (PN) preparations compounded by the Pharmacy Department in a Paediatric Hospital over a two-month period.
A prospective interventional study was conducted including all PN preparations compounded between June and July 2025 in a tertiary paediatric hospital. In order to perform gravimetric control, actual weight of each PN and deviation from theoretical weight were measured. For volumetric control, prescribed volumes of each component were compared with the actual volumes added by compounders to verify concordance between both records. Additionally, the following variables were collected for every preparation: responsible compounder and the need for re-compounding. Erroneous preparations were defined as exceeding an acceptance limit of ±5% for gravimetric control or proven discrepancies for volumetric control.
A total of 135 PN preparations were compounded during the study period. Six preparations (4.44%) produced by three different compounders were classified as erroneous. Of these, five (3.70%) were associated to gravimetric control and one (0.74%) to volumetric control. All the preparations failing gravimetric control were re-compounded and their deviation range was 5.32% to 18.2%, with a median of 6.95%. The remaining erroneous preparation was found to lack 10 mL of a 10% amino acid solution, re-compounding was not required since it was considered clinically irrelevant though.
The incorporation of gravimetric and volumetric control into routine practice would gather strength as an essential safety measure in the preparation of pediatric PN due to its feasibility and utility, specially for gravimetry. Future lines of research should focus on continuous monitoring of outcomes, including comparisons with other hospitals.
Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
Dr. Tobias Leinweber1, Dr. Lukas Tometten2, Tobias Wingen1, Dr. Andrea Liekweg1, Prof. Dr. Norma Jung2
1 Hospital Pharmacy, University Hospital Cologne, Germany
2 Department I of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Cologne, Germany
Standardized dosing tables for anti-infective agents, specifically vancomycin and piperacillin/tazobactam, were developed and integrated into the electronic prescribing system (hospital information system – HIS) of the University Hospital Cologne. The tables provide evidence-based, renal function–adjusted dosing recommendations within the clinical workflow, supporting clinicians in accurate and safe prescribing.
Existing treatment standards for infectious diseases were often underutilized in daily practice due to limited accessibility and lack of integration into the electronic prescribing system/HIS. This led to dosing errors—particularly with vancomycin, where underdosing may cause therapeutic failure and overdosing toxicity. Additionally, EUCAST updates to piperacillin/tazobactam dosing required hospital-wide adaptation of practices. The initiative aimed to improve dosing accuracy, enhance antimicrobial therapy safety, and standardize prescribing practices through direct system integration.
The project was developed by an interdisciplinary team consisting of the Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) team, the Department of Infectious Diseases, and the hospital pharmacy. To ensure effective adoption and continuous improvement, a stepwise implementation approach was chosen, enabling feedback collection and iterative refinement. The rollout was supported by ward pharmacists who provided on-site guidance and assistance during initial implementation. Targeted training sessions and regular email communications informed and engaged prescribers. All relevant information was integrated into the hospital’s antibiotic guideline to ensure easy access and long-term consistency in clinical practice. Challenges such as differing user familiarity and workflow adjustments were addressed through ongoing training and direct support.
The implementation of the vancomycin dosing standard led to more consistent therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), faster achievement of therapeutic levels, lower rates of toxicity, and reduced linezolid use, indicating improved prescribing behavior. The piperacillin/tazobactam dosing table was widely adopted, though further training remains necessary for full-scale use. Overall, the integration demonstrated improved medication safety, greater standardization, and enhanced clinical acceptance of the HIS-based prescribing system.
Training sessions, interdisciplinary experience exchange and interviews with clinicians are planned to ensure ongoing optimization.
This initiative illustrates how interprofessionally developed standards can be effectively embedded into clinical workflows. The approach can be easily transferred to other hospitals using similar prescribing software, offering a scalable model to strengthen antimicrobial stewardship, improve prescribing competence, and enhance patient safety.
Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
Cruz Pardos, S. González Andrés, D. López San Román, MA
One of the standards established by the Joint Commission (JC) involves the identification of medications that may have risk to patients and/or be a potential source of error during its dispensation or administration. This includes look-alike/sound-alike (LASA) medications, high-risk medications (HRMs) defined by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), concentrated electrolytes, and hazardous drugs (HD) according to NIOSH classification.
A tag system was designed using color-coded stickers with specific text to identify each of the medication groups defined above:
• Red stickers with the statement “High risk medication” for HRMs.
• Red stickers with the statement “Dilute before administration” for concentrated electrolytes.
• Yellow stickers with the statement “Reproductive risk” or “Hazardous drug – handle with care” for HD.
• LASA medications: Red stickers were used for those that are also high-alert, while green stickers were applied to non-high-alert LASA drugs.
In addition, for medications requiring repackaging, the repackaging protocol was modified. The changes included:
• Labelling the medication profile with either HIGH-ALERT MEDICATION or HAZARDOUS DRUG.
• Using different photoprotective packaging paper: red for HRMs and yellow for HD
At first, two working protocols were developed:
1. Labelling protocol, detailing the characteristics of each type of sticker used to identify the different medication categories.
2. Repackaging protocol, ensuring proper identification of these medications during the repackaging process.
Secondly, lists of every category were compiled of the hospital’s available medications.
For LASA medications, brand names and images were included to improve differentiation and minimize errors.
• Identification of each medication according to their category at every stage of the medication use process: reception, storage, dispensing, and administration.
• Increased awareness among nursing staff regarding the safe and appropriate handling of these medications.
• The impact of these labelling project among all medicaments available in our hospital was: MAR: 18,6% , MP: 6,1% and LASA: 15,24%
• Develop a procurement protocol aimed at reducing the number of LASA medications.
• Raise awareness within the pharmaceutical industry about the importance of clearly differentiating pharmaceutical products.
• Automate the labelling process as much as possible, to avoid repetitive work.
Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
S. CHIKHI, A. DIALLO, X. DEVIOT
Ready-to-use neonatal parenteral nutrition admixtures (RTUs) are indicated for preterm infants when enteral or oral nutrition is either impossible or insufficient. To meet patients\’ specific nutritional needs, some RTUs must be supplemented with vitamins, trace elements or electrolytes. Considering the microbiological contamination risk associated with supplementation procedures, the French National Health Authority (HAS) stated that supplemented RTUs are safer when prepared by the pharmacy, in controlled atmosphere areas, rather than in healthcare services. It also recommended no more than three supplementations.
To centralise RTUs supplementation within our parenteral nutrition unit, we carried out a retrospective analysis of prescriptions from 2023 and 2024 to evaluate their compliance with HAS recommendations.
Prescriptions were extracted from the prescription support software (Logipren). For each prescription, the number of supplements was noted, and the quantities added were evaluated against the maximum limits indicated in the Summary of Product Characteristics (SMPC).
A total of 1,073 prescriptions for 5 different RTUs were recorded. 91% (979) of prescriptions contained less than 3 additives. 9% (94) of prescriptions contained more than 3 supplements. 97% (91) of these prescriptions were for Numeta.
Regarding the compliance of added quantities, 7 prescriptions had a sodium level exceeding the authorized limit and 91 prescriptions involved supplementation with small volumes of zinc, despite the insufficient information on the feasibility of adding it.
To reduce the risk of infection and preparation errors, according to HAS recommendations, supplementation of RTUs with fewer than 3 additives, previously done in the neonatal care unit, is now performed in the pharmacy. Meanwhile, we suggested that physicians prioritize the prescription of individualized parenteral nutrition over supplemented Numeta when more than 3 supplements are required.
Clinical Pharmacy Services
Ewelina Lubieniecka – Archutowska, Bogusława Szmaja, Dorota Świtkowska, Agnieszka Prusko, Magdalena Jaśkowska, Marzena Mielczarek – Kęska, Urszula Dobrzycka – Magulska, Wioletta Kaliszan
Enteral nutrition therapy plays a crucial role in the management of patients who cannot meet their nutritional needs orally. Besides providing essential nutrients, enteral feeding access often serves as a route for drug administration, which requires specific knowledge about drug compatibility and pharmacotherapy safety among healthcare professionals.
The aim of this project was to improve the safety and effectiveness of pharmacotherapy administered through enteral feeding access at the University Clinical Centre in Gdańsk (UCC).
Based on literature review and institutional experience, the main challenges identified were related to the selection of appropriate medicines and pharmaceutical forms, as well as to the preparation and administration techniques used by nursing staff. To address these issues, several measures were implemented within UCC to enhance pharmacotherapy safety in patients with artificial enteral access.
A procedure titled “Principles of Administering Medicinal Products to Patients Receiving Enteral Nutrition via Feeding Tube or Gastrostomy” was developed and implemented. Within the hospital information system (Clininet), a dedicated list of medicines that must not be crushed or administered via enteral routes was introduced and made visible to physicians and nurses to support safe prescribing. Clininet also allows physicians, nurses, and dietitians to request pharmacotherapeutic consultations from hospital pharmacists. Pharmacists analyze and, when necessary, modify patients’ therapy. Medicines suitable for administration through enteral access were added to the hospital formulary, enabling physicians to choose formulations appropriate for crushing or alternative routes of administration. The hospital pharmacy introduced the so-called “Crushing Factory” – a centralized service where pharmacists prepare R.PEG-labeled medicines in safe forms and doses for enteral administration. Each administration is recorded in the patient’s medical documentation.
The implemented system led to:
• fewer prescribing and administration errors
• reduced drug loss and preparation mistakes
• fewer interactions and adverse effects
• compliance with accreditation standards for medication safety
• lower treatment costs and fewer pharmacological interventions
• reduced nursing workload and improved efficiency
Expand staff education on enteral pharmacotherapy, standardize training materials, monitor outcomes, introduce patients pharmaceutical discharge summaries and implement solutions hospital -wide to improve safety and continuity of care.
Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
Natalie Kuchik PharmD, MS, BCSCP and Jacalyn Rogers PharmD, MS, BCPS, CPEL, FASHP
Pediatric chemotherapy compounding requires exceptional precision and strict adherence to USP and standards due to the high-risk nature of the medications and vulnerable patient population. Traditional manual compounding workflows are prone to human error and operational inefficiencies, especially in busy hospital settings. To address these challenges, IV workflow technology was implemented to enhance patient safety, improve compliance, and streamline pharmacy operations.
An IV workflow technology system was introduced in a pediatric hospital pharmacy to support chemotherapy compounding. The system included barcode scanning for drug and diluent verification, image capture of each preparation step, and remote pharmacist verification. This allowed pharmacists to review compounding steps in real time without being physically present in the cleanroom, improving both safety and workflow efficiency.
The implementation was carried out prospectively, with pharmacists transitioning to remote in-line verification using the IV workflow platform. The system flagged incorrect drug or diluent scans and captured images of each preparation step for pharmacist review. This setup enabled pharmacists to detect and intervene in real time when errors occurred, such as incorrect labeling or volume discrepancies. Data were collected on scan alerts, image-based interventions, and workflow metrics, including preparation throughput and pharmacist time allocation.
The technology successfully identified all instances of incorrect drug and diluent selections before finalization, significantly reducing the risk of medication errors. Image review further enhanced error detection, particularly for labeling and preparation accuracy. Removing pharmacists from the cleanroom improved workflow flexibility and reduced interruptions, resulting in a 25% increase in preparation throughput. Compliance with USP and standards improved due to automated documentation and verification processes.
Future steps include expanding the use of IV workflow technology to other high-risk compounding areas and evaluating its impact on broader pharmacy operations. Additional enhancements may include integrating the system with electronic health records and exploring further automation to support scalability. Continued monitoring of safety, compliance, and efficiency metrics will guide optimization and inform best practices for pediatric and adult oncology settings.
