Along with patients, the Pharmaceutical Industry is one of the most important stakeholders, as without it access to medicines would be severely compromised. As with Technology Providers the Pharmaceutical Industry comprises a range of different types of organisation that share one common goal, ensuring that patients have access to the medicines they need. Of relevance to all sectors of the industry is the affordability issue for healthcare systems. An important part of the industry is therefore the supply of generic medicines and biosimilars that help healthcare systems manage costs and invest in new technologies.

For all it is section 2, dealing with selection, procurement and distribution of medicines and section 3, dealing with production and compounding along with presentation of medicines to help maximise safety at the administration step. Managing potential shortages of medicines  in the supply chain is a common goal with hospital pharmacy.

Research Based Pharma – in addition to the above there are individual statements concerning clinical trials and the safeguards in relation to manufacture by hospital pharmacists. Additionally, the importance of good quality information reaching patients on balancing benefit and risk.

Generic / Biosimilar providers – similar issued to research based pharma, as this part of industry will often be doing its own research on its products and their presentations.

Medicines Distributors – together with the main manufacturers identified above the distributors are critical to the management of the supply chain and support traceability of medicines.

Specialist Providers – obtaining medicines that may not have a marketing authorisation in a particular country is a common problem for hospital pharmacies and these organisations provide a vital function. Procurement of medicines outside of formulary and provision of information for patients and healthcare professionals in the use of such medicines are individual statements of relevance.

Compounders – primarily supporting hospital pharmacies meet the growing demand for medicines compounded to meet the individual needs of patients. All of section 3 is relevant.

The 44 European Statements of Hospital Pharmacy cover the full range of services provided from hospital pharmacies across Europe. However, not all hospital pharmacies provide all the services covered by the Statements. This does mean that some Statements have greater importance than others for some hospital pharmacies.

The same is true for Stakeholders, some Statements will appear to have greater relevance than others. Stakeholders are encouraged to examine all the Statements for relevance to them. However, what is provided below are links to either sections of the Statements or the individual Statements where there is believed to be greater relevance. The choices have been driven through comments received from the various Stakeholders.