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.
Education and Research
Cotrina Luque Jesús, Madeira Joana, Simões Joana, Rodrigues Leonor, Capoulas Miriam, Santos Cláudia.
A European Association of Hospital Pharmacists study revealed that over 80% of Portuguese pharmacists lack adequate clinical research competencies. Despite Portuguese Law n.º 21/2014 establishing frameworks for pharmacist involvement in clinical research, significant capability gaps persist, limiting contributions to evidence-based pharmaceutical care and scientific advancement.
An Integrated Research, Development and Innovation Unit was created and implemented in Hospital Pharmaceutical Services in 2021 to enhance pharmacists’ research performance. The unit’s mission combines high-level clinical research and training with quality basic research to achieve effective transfer of scientific results, improving pharmaceutical care. Four strategic pillars were established: effective and safe pharmacotherapy, patient satisfaction, advancement of technical-scientific knowledge, and representing excellence in the pharmaceutical sector. Four research areas were identified: medical specialties and infection control, surgical specialties and intensive care, paediatric specialties and pharmacy compounding, and transversal innovation areas including pharmacogenomics.
A comparative pre-post implementation study was conducted, comparing periods January 2019-December 2020 (pre-implementation) with January 2021-December 2024 (post-implementation). Variables collected included active research projects with pharmacists as Principal Investigators (PI), publications, scientific communications, awards, and committee participation.
The unit operated with one non-exclusive coordinator and each collaborator dedicating two days monthly. Activities included monthly scientific meetings, dynamic scheduling of scientific events, project submission support, scientific writing assistance, funding opportunity protocols, and knowledge transfer initiatives. By December 2024, active research projects increased from zero to twentyone (including three multicentric international projects). Publications raised from zero to nine articles: four non-indexed, two indexed in SciELO, one in PubMed, and two in PubMed with JCR Impact Factor. Scientific communications reached thirty presentations (six oral, twentyfour posters) at national and international congresses. The unit achieved five expert designations by Clinical Investigation Commission. Four awards were received.
Future includes expanding collaborative networks with universities, pharmaceutical industry, and international research centres, pursuing additional funding opportunities, and further developing translational research focused on patient outcomes. This innovative model, being the first integrated R&D&I unit in Portuguese Hospital Pharmaceutical Services, demonstrates successful enhancement of research capabilities with minimal resources. The framework is replicable across national hospital pharmaceutical services, providing sustainable improvements in scientific productivity and professional development.
Education and Research
Gine Stobberup, Clinical pharmacist, Odense University Hospital
Mikala Vasehus Holck, Senior Medical Advisor, MSc. Pharm. Consultancy and Negotiation
The Danish Medicines Council’s (DMC) assesses new medicines and issues recommendations based on evidence. Expert committees primarily composed of medical specialists play a key role in this process.
Pharmacists are the sole representatives of their profession in these committees, yet they represent all hospital pharmacies in Denmark. Their role is to advise on pharmaceutical aspects, including alignment with clinical guidelines, EU tenders, and practical implementation.
To support this responsibility a national pharmacist network was established in 2020.
A national network for hospital pharmacists engaged in the DMC expert committees was established. The network unites pharmacists across Denmark to strengthen competencies, ensure consistent, high-quality contributions across expert committees and provide a platform for mutual support.
The network equips pharmacists to meet the expectations of the DMC expert committees through competence development, role clarification, and harmonisation of contributions across regions.
The network meets twice a year for training, case-based discussions, and exercises that strengthen pharmacists’ ability to articulate pharmaceutical perspectives, address implementation challenges and translate expertise into committee work. Between meetings, the network functions as a consultation forum enabling members to share experiences and seek advice on complex issues.
Through this structure, pharmacists are equipped to deliver on their role: contributing expert knowledge on medicine handling, clinical use, alignment with guidelines and EU tenders, and supporting safe and practical national implementation.
The network has enhanced pharmacists’ visibility and influence within expert committees. Contributions are now more consistent and recognised as essential for safe, cost-effective and practical implementation of DMC recommendations. Feedback from the DMC indicates that pharmacists have become more active and confident participants.
Pharmacists in the network report improved understanding of DMC processes, strengthened professional identity and a secure environment for knowledge sharing and mutual support.
This initiative demonstrates how a small professional group can amplify its voice in national decision-making through structured collaboration. The model offers a scalable approach for other healthcare systems where specialised expertise is underrepresented but critical for informed decisions.
Education and Research
Kristin Michaels
Assoc. Professor Tom Simpson
Technician roles in Australia and New Zealand have evolved unevenly, with variation in scope, titles and training that limits workforce mobility and standardisation. A unified, contemporary Competency Framework was needed to underpin education, role design and safe delegation, and to support service expansion and workforce sustainability.
Advanced Pharmacy Australia (AdPha), with the New Zealand Hospital Pharmacy Association (NZHPA), developed and launched the AdPha Australian and New Zealand Technician Competency Standards—a single, bi-national framework defining the capabilities of pharmacy technicians across hospital and community settings. The Standards were formally launched on 21 October 2025 (National Pharmacy Technicians & Assistants Day), officiated by Tasmania’s Minister for Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing, the Hon. Bridget Archer MP.
AdPha convened a trans-Tasman working group of Technicians and Pharmacists from hospital and community sectors. Iterative drafting drew on international exemplars and local practice analysis, followed by open consultations (Australia: 15 Oct–29 Nov 2024; New Zealand: 21 Jul–15 Aug 2025). Feedback was incorporated to ensure relevance across settings and to articulate progressive competency levels mapped to education and supervision requirements.
The resulting Competency Standards offer a common language for capability and progression for Technicians, enabling:
• consistent role descriptions and delegation in hospital pharmacy services;
• alignment of training providers and workplace assessment;
• clearer career pathways linked to recognition programmes; and
• a platform for cross-jurisdictional workforce planning.
Public release and sector endorsement have created a focal point for implementation across Australian states and New Zealand health services (Standards overview and consultation record publicly available).
Following launch of the Competency Standards, implementation activities include contextualised role profiles for hospitals, mapping to accredited training and micro-credentials, establishment of recognition pathways within the Australian and New Zealand College of Advanced Pharmacy (ANZCAP) supervisor guides for workplace assessment, and evaluation of uptake and impact (eg, standardised induction time, error reduction in technical tasks, retention/progression metrics). The framework is readily transferable to other health systems seeking to formalise technician practice and education through a competency-based approach anchored in patient safety and quality.
CHATGPT-5 AS A POTENTIAL ALLY IN IDENTIFYING DRUG–DRUG INTERACTIONS?
Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
Presenting author : H Decouvelaere
Co-author : C Lambert de Cursay
Drug–drug interactions (DDIs) represent a major issue in clinical pharmacology, as they can lead to serious, sometimes fatal, adverse effects. The emergence of artificial intelligence models such as ChatGPT raises questions about their reliability in identifying DDIs. The literature reports that ChatGPT may generate nonexistent information (‘hallucinations’) or provide inaccurate or incomplete data. However, evidence regarding its use in detecting DDIs remains limited.
To evaluate the reliability of ChatGPT in detecting DDIs, particularly for recently marketed drugs or those under compassionate use authorisation (CUA), for which conventional databases are sometimes incomplete.
Thirteen older drugs (marketed before 2010) and seven drugs marketed since June 2025 or under CUA were identified. All pairwise drug combinations were tested. A standardised script was used to query ChatGPT consistently, minimising bias related to question phrasing. Results were checked using reliable sources (product characteristics summaries, scientific literature, DDI-Predictor, etc.). Searches were conducted between July and September 2025 using ChatGPT-5.
A total of 210 drug pairs were analysed. ChatGPT’s responses were consistent with the literature for 72% of pairs (n=152). For 9% (n=18), the information was incomplete. Partial discrepancies were observed for 1% (n=2) and total discrepancies for 18% (n=38). Among these, 68% (n=26) corresponded to ChatGPT hallucinations and 32% (n=12) to undetected DDIs. Agreement with the literature was 65% (n=59) for older drug pairs, 95% (n=20) for pairs of two recent or CUA drugs, and 74% (n=73) for mixed pairs (old and recent drugs).
ChatGPT-5 can serve as a helpful tool for identifying DDIs, providing correct analysis in nearly 75% of cases. However, its performance remains limited due to the significant risk of hallucination or omission. ChatGPT’s responses were less reliable for older drugs, likely because of the vast and sometimes outdated documentation available. Conversely, newer or CUA drugs—although less documented—benefited from more recent and homogeneous sources, improving response quality. Therefore, ChatGPT-5 cannot replace human expertise or official databases. It should always be used as a complementary tool, with its outputs verified against trusted sources.
Education and Research
FERNANDEZ LOPEZ, ELISA GEORGINA; SANTOS FAGUNDO, ANDREA; ESQUIVEL NEGRIN, JORGE; PEÑA HERNANDEZ, JOSEPHINE; GONZALEZ CRESPO, ALVARO; MAGDALENA PEREZ, AMARA; MARTIN CONDE, JOSE ANTONIO; DIAZ RUIZ, MARIA PILAR
Training in hospital pharmacy involves numerous critical technical processes (e.g. sterile preparations, parenteral nutrition, cytotoxic drugs, automated dispensing). These procedures demand high precision and adherence to protocols. Variability in training methods may lead to errors and reduced efficiency. To standardize training and provide residents and professionals with an accessible reference, a structured video library was developed.
A comprehensive training video library covering key technical processes in hospital pharmacy was designed and implemented in a tertiary hospital. The goal was to improve resident education, ensure adherence to protocols, and provide a rapid consultation tool for daily practice.
Training videos were produced for the following areas: sterile preparations (intravitreal injections, intrathecal, collyria, subcutaneous and intravenous re-dispensing, analgesia pumps), parenteral nutrition (adult and neonatal), cytotoxics (IV, SC, chemoembolization particles, elastomeric devices, intrathecal), laminar flow cabinet operation, pharmacy software tutorials, automated dispensing systems (Athos, carousels, outpatient robot), and logistics management (orders, forecasts). Each video followed a technical and regulatory script. Content was validated by professionals and residents through a pilot phase. The final materials were integrated into the hospital’s internal platform, with controlled access. Impact was assessed via satisfaction surveys and monitoring of procedural execution.
After one year, 85% of users reported improved learning and knowledge retention, while 100% of residents stated increased confidence in performing procedures. The tool has contributed to training standardization, greater adherence to protocols, and facilitated quick access to updated resources.
Future steps include producing additional videos, updating existing content according to regulatory/technological changes, and expanding the model to other hospital pharmacy departments. While it does not replace supervised practical training, this tool complements it and has strong potential for replication in other hospitals to improve quality and safety in pharmaceutical care.
Education and Research
Agnese Bosio, Chiara Carcieri, Sixberth Bugeraha, Silvia Scalpello, Giovanna Fazzina, Maria Carmen Azzolina, Gianluca Miglio, Annalisa Gasco
Drug dispensing and patient monitoring are institutional activities of hospital pharmacists worldwide. Nevertheless, the enhancement of managerial capabilities, hard and soft skills is crucial to tackle the critical challenge arising from geographical, epidemiological, demographic, cultural and legislative differences between different countries.
An initiative for cooperation and interaction between hospital pharmacists from different income countries has been developed.
The initiative was led by a pharmacist from an Italian hospital who was hosted by a hospital in southern Tanzania and spent a month collaborating with local hospital pharmacists, in order to streamline integrated workflows and optimise clinical care outcomes and professional training.
A Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats (SWOT) matrix was developed to assess the impact on three main areas: drug management, clinical pharmacy and pharmaceutical care.
Strengths: attitude for workflow standardisation, multidisciplinary and multicultural teamwork, sharing of expertise and best practice, speed up of limiting processes in order to develop activities in support of patients and clinicians, time and effectiveness in qualified staff training.
Weaknesses: complexity of procedures for drug import, hospital staff shortage (both pharmacists and physicians), absence of primary care and hospital-territory continuity of care network, clinical severity of patients admitted to hospital, imbalance between clinical pharmacy/pharmaceutical care in favour of drug management.
Opportunities: professional growth due to new healthcare challenges facing, soft skills improvement (problem solving, versatility, working under stress, teamwork, integration, overcoming prejudices), hard skills enhancement (logistics, international legislation, scientific English), budget optimisation for new investments (equipment/staff), improvement of patient safety and overall level of care.
Threats: language/cultural barriers, variable learning curve and resistance to change, barriers in social/professional relationships, individual variability in adaptation period, different patient perceptions of health and medical care.
Professional integration of hospital pharmacists from different educational and cultural backgrounds could enhance their ability to address different clinical, environmental and socio-economic issues, with the following outcomes: strengthening the professional pathway; optimising outcomes with consequent cost savings; improving the quality of healthcare for patients.
Clinical Pharmacy Services
Trine R. H. Andersen
In Region Zealand, 1 of 5 regions in Denmark, clinical pharmacist services have been developed and implemented for the past decade. Especially in the acute wards, clinical pharmacists are an integrated part of the team when receiving, assessing and admitting patients to the hospital. As stated by the EAHP, “Clinical pharmacy services should continuously evolve to optimise patients’ outcomes” (EAHP statement 4.8), and a new approach was taken to further optimise the existing collaboration between the physicians and pharmacists on patients’ medication.
The clinical pharmacy department of Region Zealand Hospital Pharmacy engaged a project with a senior year anthropology student. The anthropology student observed clinical pharmacists working with clinical pharmacist services in three acute wards. The observations on the collaboration of patients’ medication processes were disseminated to the pharmacists and physicians at the wards. This will aid in further strengthening of the collaboration and utilisation the healthcare professionals’ individual competencies in the hospital wards.
A senior year anthropology student was engaged to do objective observations of the pharmacists and physicians when collaborating in the acute wards. An anthropologist is trained to suppress subjective opinions and has no previous inception of the healthcare professionals’ work in the acute ward, and hence can do low biased observations. For 4 months the anthropologist made objective observations several times a week at each ward, and towards the end of the studies also supplemented the observations with individual interviews to further understand observed situations.
After the field observations and interviews, recurrent observation points were extracted from data and presented to the pharmacist and physicians in plenum. Discussions on the presented observations was found enlightening and strengthened the teamwork by better understanding the differences in the pharmacists’ and physicians’ responsibilities in the medication process respectively. Take home messages were visibility as well as accessibility of the pharmacist, and respect of each other’s contributions to the team.
The data will further be analysed and processed during the anthropology student’s final year and master’s thesis. The take home messages will be combined in a short introduction leaflet aimed for newly employed clinical pharmacists.
Education and Research
Matts Balgard, Jeanette Andersson, Per Nydert, Niral Patel, Anna Skrinning, Matilda Soderberg, Simon Tekmen, Celina Sving
A growing number of pharmacists in Sweden are working in a clinical setting. They often have different responsibilities and tasks, which may seem confusing to other healthcare professionals. There is an interprofessional need to describe different roles for hospital pharmacists. Equally important, there is an intraprofessional need to establish core competencies and progression of those roles and develop a professional framework to advance career structure for hospital pharmacists.
Two associations for health system pharmacists in Sweden took the initiative to collaboratively develop a national professional competency framework for clinical pharmacy practice.
A working group of experienced clinical pharmacists was tasked with drafting a first role description and professional framework for clinical pharmacy practice.
The development of the role description was influenced by, and drew upon, previous similar efforts in Sweden – primarily Stockholm, the UK Advanced Pharmacy Framework (APF) and the EAHP Competency Framework for Hospital Pharmacy. A reference group of approximately 40 Swedish clinical pharmacist volunteers provided feedback on the first draft, which improved the revised final role description.
The national role description for clinical pharmacy consists of an overview of the role, an outline of formal educational requirements and a competency framework strongly influenced by the APF. The framework has six competency clusters: clinical pharmacy practice, working relationships and communication, leadership and motivation, service development, education and training, research and evaluation and lists four stages of experience: junior, intermediate, senior and consultant.
The role description was launched in April 2022 with an open invitation to practitioners, employers and local union clubs to begin to adopt and try out the professional competency framework. It is too early to evaluate impact, but the initiative has been met with support from employers and the clinical pharmacy community.
The organisations will further promote and support implementation of the published role description. A revision is planned in 2023–2024 based on real-world feedback. New working groups are being formed to develop similar role descriptions for drug preparation and drug distribution. There is still a need to develop a system of credentialing progression between the experience stages of the professional framework.
Introductory Statements and Governance
Kirsten Lykke Vorbeck, Laila Rabbani, Somia Mohammad, Anne Bøiehøj, Lene Sehested, Majken Cardel, Lone Skovhauge, Lisbet Emmery Jørgensen
Having different sponsors with individual requirements and interpretations of rules, means a lot of work. The brochure aims to save time on answering questions by describing to every sponsor how Danish Hospital Pharmacies proceed. By demonstrating that we all do many things in the same way and ultimately have the same requirements, we hope to be able to encourage sponsors to adopt a more unified or aligned approach.
Through a collaboration of Danish hospital pharmacies, a working group on clinical trials meet regularly to discuss general procedures and challenges to our handling of clinical trials. Via this a common presentation of how we handle clinical trials and what we can offer has been described in a brochure that is given out to sponsors, investigators, clinical trial units (CTUs), clinical wards, monitors etc. The brochure also serves as an inspiration catalogue to hospital pharmacy colleagues.
In the working group we have discussed processes and which administrative and quality requirements we find reasonable and called for (from our point of view and that of our sponsors). We appreciate that we cannot do everything in exactly the same way, but we have tried to include as much as possible in the brochure leaving it up to the individual pharmacy to supplement with local procedures.
The brochure is evidence of our cooperation within Denmark. It has been distributed to relevant partners and to “Trial Nation”, a national entry point for companies who wish to conduct clinical trials in Denmark. It is intended as general information and to be handed out to new potential sponsors. It has resulted in an aligned and time-saving procedure.
Hospital pharmacies are small players in the field of clinical trials but nonetheless important ones. Working together to find general procedures not only helps ourselves to identify good practices but also means we can create a smoother handling of the trials and that we stand stronger when meeting the different requirements from sponsors. This cooperative approach has met with a good response. It promotes further cooperation between all parties, and it is recommended to be implemented in other healthcare settings.
Education and Research
Trine R. H. Andersen, Trine Graabæk, Ulla Hedegaard, Lene J. Kjeldsen, Charlotte Olesen, Hanne T. Plet, Anne B. Walls, The Danish Hospital Pharmacy Research Network (DanHoPR Network) On behalf of
A decade ago, collaboration between Danish hospital pharmacies regarding knowledge sharing, information, procurement and development of services already existed. However, research activities were scarce, and peer reviewed publications were rare. While the Danish universities didn’t have hospital pharmacy as a research area, the research unit called SAFE had been formed under The Danish regions’ joint procurement and tendering organization, to encourage hospital pharmacies to increase research activities. Meanwhile, a handful of hospital pharmacists scattered throughout Denmark had been initiating PhD-projects, but with no formal cooperation or awareness of each other.
A national network for researchers in hospital pharmacy was established 10 years ago to strengthen the research activities within hospital pharmacies in Denmark.
The network was established at a meeting in October 2011 gathering the five PhD-fellows, SAFE and potential researchers. The overall aim was to strengthen hospital pharmacy research in Denmark. The terms of reference included creating a forum where established as well as upcoming researchers can meet twice a year to share knowledge and provide feedback on each other’s research. To further strengthen the network and research, funding was raised for a fieldtrip to UK hospital pharmacy research groups. After this, the network decided to promote a more international profile. A LinkedIn site was established along with the design of a logo, an English translation, name and acronym (DanHoPR Network).
The DanHoPR Network now celebrates its 10th anniversary and counts more than 30 members from all Danish hospital pharmacies and from universities.
The amount of published research from Danish hospital pharmacies has increased considerably during the 10 years. In total, network members have first authored more than 35 articles, co-authored more than 70 publications, co-supervised more than 80 master theses and PhD-fellows have multiplied over the decade.
The DanHoPR network gather 2-3 times/year in full-day virtual or IRL meetings to collaborate on research, share ideas and discuss subjects such as methodology, interpretation of results, funding, challenges or celebrations.
The network seeks to collaborate internationally and hopes to inspire to similar networks across Europe or connect to exiting fellow networks.
