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 specialised knowledge of the EHR medication module, aiming to assure quality, optimise workflows, strengthen interdisciplinary coordination, and support safer and more efficient clinical use.
CPS IT Team standardised workflows, enhanced coordination of medication order tasks, and created a forum to effectively utilise professional knowledge and networks across areas.
To address diverse Clinical Pharmacy challenges, CPS IT Team became the bridge between internal organisation (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 optimisation and standardised workflows. Acting as a coordinating unit, it optimises 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 optimised workflows. CPS IT Team efforts have helped prevent medication-related adverse events, improve workflows, and optimise 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.
Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
Mengato D, Camuffo L, Todino F, Binanti ME, Sartori S, Benini F, Venturini F
Medication errors in paediatrics often arise from incorrect handling or administration by caregivers. Strengthening their knowledge is essential to improve safety and adherence. The initiative aimed to raise awareness and assess caregivers’ understanding of safe medication use, storage, and the role of compounded (‘galenic’) medicines. It also intended to reinforce the visibility of clinical pharmacists as accessible medication experts for families.
On 17 September 2025, during the World Health Organization’s World Patient Safety Day themed ‘Safe care for every newborn and every child’, the clinical pharmacy team of the Azienda Ospedale–Università Padova organised an awareness event within the Paediatric Department. The initiative included a pharmacist managed information desk, an interactive quiz for parents and caregivers, educational materials on safe medication practices, and gadgets for children to foster engagement. Pharmacists were available throughout the day to answer questions and provide individual counselling on paediatric medicines.
A voluntary anonymous quiz with 10 knowledge-based and 2 awareness questions was administered to parents visiting the department. Participants received a score (1–10) and tailored feedback: scores ≥8 indicated excellent knowledge, 5–7 good knowledge with room for improvement, and <5 the need for closer pharmacist or physician guidance. The event required coordination with paediatric staff and logistical support for educational materials and space allocation.
Thirty-two parents completed the quiz: 68.8% achieved ≥8 points (‘super-pharma-parents’), 28.1% scored 5–7, and 3.1% scored <5. Knowledge was strong regarding shaking suspensions (100%), completing antibiotic courses (96.9%), and proper disposal of expired drugs (96.9%). Gaps emerged in measuring tools (9.4% incorrect) and preparation environment (6.2% unsuitable). Awareness of galenic medicines was limited (18.7% misdefinition). The initiative was well received, stimulating high engagement and requests for future educational sessions.
The experience improved caregiver awareness and strengthened collaboration between families and clinical pharmacists. This initiative, which is embedded with the Clinical Pharmacy Ambulatory, represents a reproducible model to enhance paediatric medication safety. Future steps include integrating similar educational events into routine hospital activities and developing digital tools to extend pharmacist-led counselling to the community.
Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
Hui-Yu Chen, Kai-Cheng Chang
Medication safety remains a cornerstone of healthcare quality, yet adverse drug events (ADEs) continue to cause preventable harm in hospitals. Traditional manual dispensing workflows, dependent on human memory and paper-based checks, are prone to errors, particularly in large medical centers with high prescription volumes.
We launched the “Smart Dispensing and Data Governance Project,” aiming to transform the pharmacy workflow through digitalization and data-driven quality management.
A two-pronged strategy was adopted: (1) deployment of smart dispensing hardware and (2) establishment of a big data governance platform. The hardware featured personalized login for accountability, closed-loop barcode verification of both medications and prescription bags, LED guidance and voice feedback for real-time alerts, and final barcode validation before dispensing. Advanced automation such as real-time stock sensing, weight-based verification, and image-assisted accuracy checks further minimized human errors. A SAS Visual Analytics–based Business Intelligence dashboard visualized error trends and enabled continuous PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) improvement cycles through near real-time feedback.
Implementation led to substantial quality improvements: the dispensing error rate decreased by 78.3% (0.023‰ to 0.0050‰, P < 0.05); data analysis time for error monitoring shortened from 4 hours to 10 minutes (-98.3%, P < 0.05); and pharmacist training time reduced from 10 days to 3 days (−60.0%). All indicators showed statistically significant enhancement in accuracy and efficiency. Integrating smart dispensing systems with big data governance effectively advanced medication safety and operational efficiency. This model established a scalable, data-driven, and high-reliability pharmacy workflow, transforming quality management from reactive correction to proactive prevention and serving as a replicable benchmark for digital hospital transformation.
We plan to apply AI algorithms to dynamically optimize drug storage locations based on usage and safety risk, and to digitalize all storage displays through an integrated electronic shelf–label system. These enhancements will further strengthen accuracy, reduce human-factor variability, and advance a highly reliable smart dispensing workflow.
Clinical Pharmacy Services
Marco Gambera; Alessandra Grotto; Isabella Martignoni
Periodic audits in hospital settings play a crucial role in identifying non-conformities and areas for improvement, ensuring that departments meet the required operational standards. During a routine inspection of the intensive care unit (ICU), the hospital pharmacy team discovered an outdated Y-site drug compatibility chart, which had not undergone prior review or approval. This non-conformity underscored the need for updated and reliable resources for managing drug compatibility in critical care settings. Addressing this issue became an opportunity to strengthen collaboration between the pharmacy and the ICU, with the aim of improving patient safety and clinical workflows
The primary objective was to update and optimize the Y-site drug compatibility management in the ICU by revising the existing chart and educating the medical staff on real-time, evidence-based tools for accessing drug stability and interaction data integrating these tools into the daily practices of the ICU, ensuring that staff could access the most current information quickly and efficiently
ICU staff received dedicated training on using up-to-date software tools such as Stabilis, Micromedex, and Lexidrug. These tools provide real-time information on drug stability and interactions. Following the training, a comprehensive review of the ICU’s most frequently used medications was conducted and a new Y-site compatibility chart was developed, incorporating the latest stability data. The chart was tailored to meet the specific needs and operational practices of the ICU team, ensuring it was both practical and user-friendly
The revised chart and the associated training program significantly enhanced collaboration among healthcare professionals in the ICU, improving communication and awareness of each team member’s expertise. This project highlights the value of expanding the clinical role of hospital pharmacists, their expertise can directly improve patient care and support the management of complex drug therapies.
Further support measures will be implemented, such drug-specific tables outlining stability, interactions, storage, and handling instructions. These tables align with recommendations on medication management and provide an essential resource for clinical decision-making. The initiative not only enhanced the quality and safety of medication administration but also fostered a culture of continuous professional development and collaboration, ultimately benefiting the ICU’s clinical operations and patient outcomes
Clinical Pharmacy Services
Mercedes Gómez-Delgado, Marta Valera-Rubio, Margarita Carballo-Ruiz, José Luis Ortiz-Latorre, Isabel Moya-Carmona
Blood coagulation factors and their adequate use can be of particular importance in the treatment of massive haemorrhage, especially in the ICU. This initiative was taken in order to improve uptake and to avoid errors in the administration, which can be difficult in emergency situations.
To define an emergency procedure that ensures correct management in cases of massive bleeding in an intensive care unit (ICU).
The development of drug use protocols for emergency situations is a simple task that facilitates health workers to manage them. Prioritising the drugs to be included in a protocol by a previous survey in a multidisciplinary setting is important to consider the different points of view. We carried out a review of the pharmacy service to the ICU needs of antihaemorrhagic drugs. ICU staff (doctors and nurses) were informed to reach an agreement about eligible drugs for being included in the protocol. ICU staff requested the inclusion of four drugs in the protocol according to the prevalence of use and the difficulty of administration: human fibrinogen, tranexamic acid, eptacog alfa and human prothrombin complex. We created a protocol with four information sheets, one of each drug, made of schematic information about: 1. Physical location (fridge or room temperature, number of shelf) and minimum safety stock (3 units of human fibrinogen, 4 units of tranexamic acid and 3 units of human prothrombin complex). 2. Indications and dosage according to the clinical situation and the patient characteristics (dosage adjustment according to renal or hepatic impairment, weight or age when applicable). 3. Recommendations for intravenous administration (flow rate, bolus, loading dose, dilution, mixture stability).
Mapping the information and dividing it into sections is essential for its rapid understanding in a high-stress work environment. The implementation of this protocol was well embraced by all the staff involved, since it allowed a more efficient health care circuit for the ICU staff. It also optimises the consumption of this type of more monitored drugs.
We will monitor the compliance with this protocol, as well as possible updates that may be beneficial for a better understanding of the forms of administration.
Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
The implementation of safe medication practices plays a key role to prevent medication errors (ME) in the hospital setting. High-alert medications (HAMs) are those that bear a heightened risk of causing significant patient harm when they are used in error. Institutions such as the Joint Commission requires that hospitals define institution-specific HAMs and implement good processes.
Our objective was to ensure safe medication hospital practices and to eliminate medication errors that may cause harm, which is a priority to achieve patient´s safety goals.
A program for identifying and handle high-alert medications in a terciary hospital has been implemented.
The project was carried out in different stages:
-First of all, it was consulted the updated list (published in 2012) by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices. Therefore, a total of 186 drugs were HAMs.
-The second step was identified them using auxiliary red colour labels to warn health professionals of their potential danger.
-Finally, we defined general and specific strategies to take up with HAMs. In general strategies, plant kits were reviewed to remove unnecessary stock and limiting access to HAMs. It was also standardized HAM handling practices. In this way, specific strategies focused on: methotrexate, insulin and heparin. Regarding methotrexate administered orally, it was distributed a fact sheet indicating rules to promote it proper administration. Regarding insulin, a working group was formed to determine the available presentations, reserving the insulin pen for diabetic debuts. For the unfractionated heparin, a procedure for standardized dilution of 5% heparin was performed being the 1% heparin restricted to certain services.
A total of 186 medications were identifyed as HAMs and different strategies to prevent ME with those was defined. The main objective we have accomplished is becoming aware of their potential danger in case of error.
In the near future, our main objetives are asses the long-term impact of the implemented strategies, monitor ME involving HAMs and reassess the current list of HAMs to promote a needed safety culture in the hospital setting.
