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.
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.
Clinical Pharmacy Services
Margot DESCHAMPS, Nejib BORGAAOUI, Jimmy ROSE, Jennifer LE GRAND, Louise NICOLAS
Digestive cancers represent about 25% of new cancer cases diagnosed in France each year. The medical management of these cancers mainly relies on cytotoxic drugs. Side effects of these medications (fatigue, hair loss, nausea, or digestive issues) can affect negatively patients quality of life. These symptoms can make daily life challenging.
As part of a patient therapeutic education program, the goal of our project was to develop an innovative educational tool to help patients better understand these side effects and find ways to manage them.
As part of the implementation of a multidisciplinary therapeutic education program, bringing together oncologists, pharmacists, sophrologists, osteopaths, and nutritionists, designed for patients treated for digestive cancers, the pharmacy is responsible for a workshop focused on the side effects of chemotherapy. The main molecules used to treat digestive cancers were listed, along with their most common side effects. Based on this analysis, playing cards were created, each corresponding to a specific side effect.
The developed tool is an educational and interactive board game, consisting of a board, a dice, and 56 cards. These cards are divided into 6 categories: general symptoms, neurology-psychology, heart-lungs, gastroenterology, dermatology, and real-life scenarios. The cards were designed to be understandable and accessible to all patients. The workshop takes place in two parts, with the pharmacist as the main facilitator. In the first part, patients are encouraged to share their personal experiences related to the drawn card. Then, the scenario cards are presented to help patients manage these challenges in their daily lives.
The decision was made to limit the number of participants to 6, in order to allow everyone to express themselves and exchange freely. The duration of the workshop was theoretically set at 1.5 hours but will need to be adjusted during the first workshops. It will be necessary to implement satisfaction surveys and patient follow-up on various criteria, such as emergency room visits, the number of calls after the session, and the rating of side effects.
Clinical Pharmacy Services
Daniel Rasmussen* and Morten Baltzer Houlind
72-hour treatment responsibility (72H-TR) after hospital care is established to create a safe transition for the patient between hospital treatment and their home. After the implementation of 72H-TR, Copenhagen University Hospital, Amager and Hvidovre (AHH), experiences many calls from the municipalities related to patients’ medications. The purpose of this was to characterize calls related to medication in relation to 72H-TR.
We reviewed logs from incoming calls made by Copenhagen and Høje-Taastrup municipalities regarding 72H-TR.
Calls related to patients discharged from the orthopedic or pulmonary medicine departments from AHH during the period from September to November 2023 were included. Further, two senior clinical pharmacists assessed whether calls related to medication was potentially preventable. In case of disagreement, consensus was reached between the reviews.
The results showed that 27 out of 50 (54%) calls were medication-related, and 22 out of 27 (82%) were potentially preventable. Of the medication-related calls that were potentially preventable, suboptimal communication was responsible for 11 out of 22 cases (50%), lack of a prescription accounted for 8 out of 22 cases (36%), and incomplete medication reconciliation accounted for 3 out of 22 cases (14%).
The next step will involve cross-sectoral and interdisciplinary workshops to identify barriers and facilitators and optimize the discharge process. We will also continue improving the online medication discharge reports available to municipalities to eliminate any ambiguities.
Clinical Pharmacy Services
S Hurel, H Benoist, N Guesdon, S Niemczyk, A-P Gaumon, A Perdriel, E Labbe
Hospital Center of Falaise, Falaise, FRANCE
sylvelie.hurel@orange.fr
Implementation of a local cooperation protocol (LCP) to enable pharmacists to renew and adapt prescriptions within the hospital.
In France, a decree published in February 2023 allows pharmacists working in hospital pharmacies to renew and adapt therapies (RAT) in a concerted manner (RATC) or directly (RATD). Previously, pharmacists could not intervene directly in prescriptions, but could only recommend changes to the prescriber, which were often time-consuming and never made. The aim of setting up this protocol was to improve patient care and optimise pharmacist and medical time.
The LCP was implemented on 8 July 2024 in a 600-bed hospital on three long-term geriatric test units (100 beds) following validation by the hospital medical committee in June 2024. A prospective study was carried out over three months on seven indicators: number of patients included, RATCs, RATDs, physician acceptance rates, adverse event (AE) and serious AE rates, and pharmacist and physician satisfaction rates. The indicators were collected in real time using a dynamic cross-tabulated Excel table, and satisfaction was assessed using a survey comprising five multiple-choice questions.
The number of patients included over the three months implementation period was 58. A total of 153 RATs were performed, including 53.6% (n=82) RATDs and 46.4% (n=71) RATCs. The main interventions concerned drugs prescribed but not referenced in hospital (n=38), inappropriate treatment durations (n=23) and supra-therapeutic dosages (n=18). The acceptance rate by doctors was 100% (n=153). There were no AEs or serious AEs reported. The satisfaction rate of doctors (n=3) and pharmacists (n=2) showed an overall satisfaction rate of 100% (n=5).
This three-month feedback showed that healthcare professionals were completely satisfied with the service provided by this LCP and the indicators have proved that this protocol can be applied safely. Thanks to this results, the LCP will therefore be continued in the three test units before being rolled out to other departments. Implementing this LCP in departments such as surgery will make it possible to secure prescriptions in a partnership between doctors and pharmacists.
Clinical Pharmacy Services
VC Lamprecht, J Pont, SD Brugger, M Dunic, T Stutz, AR Burch
The preparation of parenteral medication on wards pose a hygienic challenge. It is however imperative that parenteral solutions remain aseptic, as they evade the primary barrier of the human immune defense.
The bioburden of non-preserved parenteral medications after manipulation depends on the setting. Therefore, manufacturers cannot provide guidelines on microbial stability after manipulation and hence limit the retention period to immediate use.
National recommendations concerning this issue range from cautious to restrictive, but often allow exceptions e.g. for emergency medication. These recommendations, are difficult to implement universally due to the non-transferable framework conditions from one hospital to another.
A practical framework for the determination of retention time of manipulated parenteral medication was developed, as economic and ecological perspectives stand in contrast to the hygienic ideal.
International recommendations were sighted. Recommendations of the German Commission for Hospital Hygiene and Infection Prevention (KRINKO), as well as the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) and The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) were used as references, as well stated sources.
Key points were identified to create a directory that enables clinical professionals to use standardized cornerstones while adapting to their individual clinical setting.
The following are indicators for the retention period in which the parenteral medication may be used: (1) primary packaging; (2) type of manipulation; (3) physicochemical properties and (4) storage temperature.
A collaboration with the Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology of the University Hospital of Zurich was established to record the hospital specific conditions and to subsequently adapt the clinical practice as well as evaluate cost-effectiveness and patient safety.
Further collaborations with Swiss hospitals are being sought.
Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
PAULA HERNANDO MARTÍNEZ, VIOLETA LAFARGA LAPIEZA, DAVID JAMES BOARDMAN GONZÁLEZ, GRACIA PICAZO SANCHÍZ, CARIDAD MARTÍ GIL, DOLORES BARREDA HERNÁNDEZ
The administration of medications through NGT is a common practice in the hospital setting. However, it cannot be assumed that this route of administration shares same properties as the oral route. Proper administration requires considering the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic proper1es and adapting recommendations to the medication’s pharmaceutical form(PF). Incorrect manipulation can lead to undesirable effects, such as a reduction or loss of therapeutic efficacy, as well as an increase in adverse effects, toxicity or mechanical, metabolic, and/or infectious complications.
Despite the wide bibliography on this topic, there is a lack of knowledge among patients, caregivers, and hospital staff when there is not adequate training on the use and care of the NGT.
Development of a pharmaceutical care project for patients with nasogastric tubes(NGT) to ensure the proper administration of medications through the tube and their correct handling.
In May 2024, a working group of pharmacists was formed in the Hospital Pharmacy Department (HPD) with the aim of creating a protocol for the adjustment of medications for administered through a NGT in hospitalized patients. A document was developed with general recommendations on maintenance, interactions with drugs, food and enteral nutrition, aimed at patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals to ensure the correct use of the tube. Additionally, a literature review was conducted on the various available manipulation guidelines (Technical sheets, dysphagia Guide from La Paz Hospital 2021 and the Guide for Drug Administration through Tubes Reina Sofía Hospital 2023), as well as validated apps such as (Deglufarm®, Medisonda®) which provide handling and administra1on instructions for each PF.
A daily search was conducted for hospitalized patients with nasogastric tubes to identify the need of instructions on medication handling. A fillable document was designed with the necessary recommendations for the handling of each prescribed medication during the hospitalization. During the pharmaceutical validation, patients with NGT were reviewed, and personalized reports were created according to the prescribed treatments.
To evaluate the level of patient sa1sfaction and including new needs. In addition, the aim is to implement this protocol upon discharge, in order to offer a personalized report with recommendations for the prescribed medications.
Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
Hamza TAJRI, Abdelhafid BENOMAR, Houda ATTJIOUI, Majda BENABBES, Madiha ALAMI CHENTOUFI
The sterilization of reusable medical devices is important for ensuring patient safety in hospital environments. However, the complexity of this process poses significant risks. The Failure Modes, Effects, and Criticality Analysis (FMECA) method offers a systematic approach to identify and mitigate these risks, thus enhancing the overall safety of sterilization practices.
This work aimed to optimize the sterilization process at our hospital by applying the FMECA method. The focus was on evaluating each stage of the sterilization process, from pre-disinfection to storage and distribution.
A comprehensive FMECA was conducted on the eight main stages of the sterilization process: pre-disinfection, washing, rinsing, drying, packaging, sterilization, batch control and release, and storage and distribution. Each potential failure mode was evaluated in terms of severity (G), occurrence (O), and detectability (D) on a scale from 1 to 5, enabling the calculation of the Risk Priority Index (RPI).
The analysis revealed that contamination during drying and ineffective sterilization had the highest Risk Priority Numbers (RPNs), indicating the most critical risks in the process. As a result, these stages require special attention and priority corrective actions. The study also highlighted significant risks in other sterilization steps, underlining the importance of a comprehensive approach to risk management.
The application of FMECA has enabled us to identify critical areas within the sterilization circuit. Moving forward, we will implement targeted improvement strategies focusing on increased monitoring, preventive maintenance of instruments, and enhanced staff training, particularly regarding drying and sterilization processes.
Clinical Pharmacy Services
Tea Stiplošek, Alenka Kovačič
The growing misuse of antimicrobials, resulting in resistant microorganisms and more adverse reactions, has been identified as a significant concern. To tackle this issue, a system was put in place to systematically monitor the hospital’s dispensing and use of reserve antimicrobials.
We established a system where each reserve antimicrobial prescription in the hospital is reviewed by a pharmacist, who decides whether to dispense the drug or suggest therapy adjustments. The dispensation of antimicrobial drug to the patient is then recorded in the patient’s medical documentation.
A special prescription form has been prepared, used exclusively for ordering reserve antimicrobials from the pharmacy in our hospital, separate from other medications. The form is reviewed by a pharmacist, who calculates the patient’s creatinine clearance, examines inflammatory markers, checks the alignment of treatment with the antibiogram, and reviews potential interactions with other therapies before deciding whether to dispense the drug. If necessary, the pharmacist suggests modifications to the antimicrobial treatment. Each time the antimicrobial is dispensed, it is recorded in the patient’s medical documentation for easier treatment tracking.
This approach has established systematic control over the prescription of reserve antimicrobial drugs, with a clinical pharmacist introducing an additional prescription checkpoint. Analysis of data from our work between 2020 and 2023 shows that during this period, we dispensed 16,464 courses of reserve antimicrobials, with pharmacists recommending therapy adjustments in 2,211 cases (13.6%). On average, we recommended dose reductions in 43.5% of cases due to impaired kidney function and dose increases in 23.5% due to improved kidney function or the need for appropriate dosing for specific indications. Pharmacokinetic monitoring (TDM) interventions, including those for vancomycin, amikacin, and gentamicin, accounted for 29.75% of the interventions, while 3.35% of our recommendations involved therapy changes due to inappropriate treatment based on antibiograms or the patient’s impaired kidney function.
We are digitizing the ordering system, allowing departments to request antimicrobial drugs directly through the hospital information system. We are also developing an application to calculate kidney function and verify the correct antibiotic dosage for each patient, all in one place.
| RISK ASSESSMENT OF STERILE PREPARATIONS PERFORMED IN THE HOSPITAL PHARMACY SERVICE |
Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
A. HERREROS FERNÁNDEZ, P. FERNÁNDEZ-VILLACAÑAS FERNÁNDEZ, R. AÑEZ CASTAÑO, P. ORTIZ FERNÁNDEZ, M.A. MEROÑO SAURA, I. GARCÍA MASEGOSA, R. GUZMÁN LAIZ, P. SELVI SABATER, C. CABALLERO REQUEJO, L. RENTERO REDONDO, E. URBIETA SANZ.
The preparation of sterile magistral formulas involves significant risks due to complex processes, material handling, and sterility requirements. A systematic risk assessment was essential to identify vulnerabilities, classify risk levels, and implement preventive measures to improve safety and compliance with regulatory standards.
Sterile magistral formulas are personalized medications prepared in hospital pharmacy services to meet individual patient needs. In 2023, a risk matrix was implemented to systematically evaluate the risks associated with their preparation. This initiative aimed to enhance patient safety and ensure compliance with the “Guide to Good Practices for the Preparation of Medications in Hospital Pharmacy Services” (GGP).
Sterile magistral formulas prepared in the pharmacotechnics area of a hospital during 2023 were identified from a Microsoft Access® database. A Microsoft Excel® database was specifically designed to apply the GGP-based risk matrix, categorizing formulas into low, medium, or high risk. Each formula was evaluated across six key criteria: preparation process, route of administration, drug safety profile, number of units prepared, preparation vulnerabilities, and distribution process. Risk levels were assigned using a combination of letters (A-D) based on the matrix. Challenges included standardizing data collection and ensuring multidisciplinary collaboration to refine the matrix and ensure its applicability.
A total of 80 sterile magistral formulas were assessed. Of these, 38.75% were classified as medium risk, 36.25% as high risk, and 25% as low risk. Among medium-risk formulas, 67.7% included a “C” in the matrix, while 96.6% of high-risk formulas contained at least one “D.” The most frequent risk combinations were “BBAAAA” (11.25%) and “BBBAAA” (10%). The preparation process and administration route were the primary contributors to overall risk. Medium- and high-risk formulas, primarily intravenous mixtures of antibiotics and biological drugs, required preparation in a cleanroom environment, as recommended by the GGP.
This initiative demonstrated the value of a risk matrix in identifying and managing risks in the preparation of sterile magistral formulas. It represents a best practice model with significant potential for adaptation in other healthcare settings, enhancing patient safety and standardizing risk management in hospital pharmacy operations.
Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
Diana Monteiro
Luísa Álvares
Sara Brandão Madureira
Patrocínia Rocha
The confirmation of a clinical diagnosis of brain death requires the demonstration of the cessation of brainstem functions and their irreversibility. Therefore, when this evaluation is incomplete or unreliable, it is necessary to support this diagnosis using diagnostic tests such as brain perfusion SPECT. This is performed after the injection of the radiopharmaceutical technetium-99m hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime (99mTc-HMPAO) and by assessing the obtained images for the lack of cerebral perfusion to confirm the diagnosis.
Given the importance of reliable results, a high radiochemical purity of 99mTc-HMPAO is imperative in quality control to prevent false positives.
Selection of a method to evaluate the radiochemical purity of 99mTc-HMPAO.
A literature review was conducted to select the most suitable method for the conditions existing in the institution. The research focused on the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC), the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur. 11.0), the United States Pharmacopeia (USP 42) and several published articles.
After selecting the method, three assays were performed to validate it.
For evaluating the radiochemical purity of 99mTc-HMPAO, both the SmPC and Ph.Eur. 11.0 recommend a combination of two thin-layer chromatography (TLC) methods with a high-dimension stationary phase, for which the institution does not have a chromatographic tank.
The USP 42 describes a combination of three TLC methods, using acetonitrile as the mobile phase, which is also unavailable at the institution.
In contrast, the miniaturized method by Fuente et al. uses two TLC methods, with a silica gel stationary phase and sodium chloride (0.9%) and methyl ethyl ketone as mobile phases. This method was selected given that the institution has the required phases, the stationary phase dimensions are suitable for the available chromatography tanks and the execution time for the assay is feasible.
For method validation, three assays were conducted, yielding values exceeding 80% (the reference value).
The selected method represents a rapid, reproducible and reliable alternative for evaluating the radiochemical purity of 99mTc-HMPAO. It was implemented in the institution in October 2022.
In the future, we aim to develop quality control methods for all radiopharmaceuticals in use at the institution, in order to guaranty the quality of all the exams performed.
Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
Luísa Álvares
Sara Brandão Madureira
Diana Monteiro
Patrocínia Rocha
Lutetium (177Lu) oxodotreotide is indicated for treating subtype 2 somatostatin receptor-positive (SSTR2) gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, well-differentiated G1 and G2, progressive, inoperable or metastatic. This radiopharmaceutical targets cells with SSTR2 overexpression, emitting radiation that causes cell death.
Initially, the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) included the gravity method for intravenous administration, using a system with two needles, one connected to a NaCl 0.9% solution, with or without a perfusion pump, using gravity to facilitate the flow of the radiopharmaceutical.
This method was adopted and optimized due to incidents during administration.
Optimization of the administration method of lutetium (177Lu) oxodotreotide to maximize the administered radioactivity and enhance protection for healthcare professionals.
The first administration using the described method occurred in October 2022.
Subsequent treatments required transferring the radiopharmaceutical to a syringe and using a syringe pump due to incidents during administration.
A perfusion pump was later introduced to manage the flow of NaCl 0.9% solution.
In May 2024, a three-way stopcock was connected to the short needle.
Since October 2022, 23 administrations have been conducted. In the first, the percentage of remaining radioactivity in the vial was 2.19%.
The use of a syringe pump increased handling and exposure risks and was rejected due to the lack of protective barriers.
Adding a perfusion pump to the NaCl 0.9% line didn’t fully resolve perfusion issues. This was resolve by adding a three-way stopcock connected to the short needle. The additional third line allows for a syringe to be attached and force air into the system, promoting the radiopharmaceutical flow.
The average remaining radioactivity improved from 1.71% to 0.98% after final optimization.
No incidents, such as leaks or perfusion issues, occurred after optimization.
This optimization reduced the remaining radiopharmaceutical activity values, ensuring complete administration. It also minimizes professional exposure and contamination risks, as the radiopharmaceutical remains in the original vial, as indicated in the SmPC.
We aim to apply this optimized method in other treatments with the same radionuclide.
