The EAHP EU Monitor is a regular round up of news relevant to hospital pharmacy in Europe.

You can subscribe to receive the EAHP EU Monitor by email HERE. 

EAHP-ESCP video initiative goes live 

Over the last couple of weeks the video initiative of the European Association of Hospital Pharmacists (EAHP) and the European Society of Clinical Pharmacy (ESCP) collected best practice examples of clinical and hospital pharmacy services that made a difference for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Short 2 to 3-minute videos have been made available on the initiatives YouTube channel to demonstrate how clinical and hospital pharmacists coped with the challenges posed by the novel coronavirus. Contributions were submitted from all across Europe touching for example on the preparation of disinfectants, the creation of new workflows and the r

esolution of medicines shortage problems. 

As outlined in the call to action, clinical and hospital pharmacists can still submit their videos to EAHP and ESCP, despite the fact that the deadline has passed. There are no limitations apart from the fact that the video should fulfil minimum graphical quality standards and that is should be non-commercial and respect ethical and privacy standards. Thus, in case you have just finished your video contribution, please email it via we-transfer (https://wetransfer.com/) to covid19[at]eahp[dot]eu  and international.office[at]escpweb[dot]org.

Watch the submitted videos HERE 

More information about the video initiative is available HERE  

Don’t miss today’s webinar on “International Hospital Pharmacy against COVID”

Today, the Spanish Association of Hospital Pharmacists (SEFH) will be organising a webinar showcasing international hospital pharmacy contributions against COVID-19. EAHP’s Director of Finance, Dr András Süle, will participate on behalf of the Association. 

Together with the Senior Vice President of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), Dr Douglas J. Scheckelhoff, the President of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), Dr Dominique Jordan, the Innovation Director of SEFH, Dr José Manuel Martínez Sesmero and the Vice President of SEFH, Dr Jordi Nicolás Picó, Dr Süle will be sharing how hospital pharmacists addressed the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The webinar will start at 6 PM CEST. Registrations are still possible via the following  LINK

 

 

 Council Conclusions on Shaping Europe's Digital Future

Under the Croatian Presidency the Council adopted conclusions in June addressing a variety of issues linked to the EU’s digital strategy. Titled ‘Shaping Europe's Digital Future’, the document touches, among other things, on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, digital health and education. 

In the field of health, the council conclusions address the digital transformation of health and care and its value in strengthening the resilience of health systems. In particular due to the COVID-19 pandemic they highlight the importance of a European Health Data Space and mobile applications to support contact tracing. Other points interlink with the importance of interoperability of for example electronic health records and the future contributions of artificial intelligence for the health sector.

Croatia will conclude its presidency today. For the coming six months, Germany will hold the EU’s Council presidency. It’s work programme is built around to the slogan "Together for Europe's recovery". The COVID-19 pandemic will be a key focus. 

Access the council conclusions HERE

Public consultation for the EU pharmaceutical strategy  

In addition to the roadmap consultation – which EAHP featured in its EU Monitor of 9 June 2020 – the European Commission opened a public consultation for its new EU Strategy on safe and affordable medicines. Until 15 of September, members of the public, stakeholders and organisations are encouraged to contribute to this consultation.

The pharmaceutical strategy for Europe aims to address issues linked to the availability and the affordability of medicines by creating a future proof regulatory framework. In addition, its seeks to support industry in promoting research and technologies that actually reach patients and fulfil their therapeutic needs while addressing market failures. 

The consultation consists of questions, which will focus on key themes: strategic autonomy and manufacturing of medicines, access to affordable medicines, innovation, and environmental sustainability and health challenges. The aim of the consultation is to allow the public, experts and stakeholders to contribute and voice their opinion on the best ways to address pharmaceutical related issues in the EU. The results of the public consultation will contribute to the preparation, in the autumn, of the EU pharmaceutical strategy, which is expected to be adopted by the end of the year.

Access the public consultation HERE

 

Lessons learnt from presence of N-nitrosamine impurities in sartan medicines

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) together with the Head of Medicines Agencies (HMA) published the outcomes of its lessons learned exercise on the presence of nitrosamines in sartan medicines. Started in May 2019, the exercise consider ways to prevent unexpected impurities such as N-nitrosamines from being present in human medicines and to better manage such cases should they occur in the future.

The recommendations outlined in the report call for the development of additional guidance on the roles and responsibilities of companies involved in the manufacture of medicines, controlling impurities, good manufacturing practice (GMP) as well as sampling and testing. In addition, the report suggests:

• improving communication with patients and healthcare professionals;
• expanding cooperation with international partners; and,
• further developing information technology systems.

The forty recommendations will now feed into concrete measures that aim at protecting the quality of EU medicines with respect to N-nitrosamines and other impurities.

Read the report HERE

 

Provision of clinical pharmacy services during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study of clinical pharmacists’ views and experiences

The Research Committee of the European Society of Clinical Pharmacy (ESCP) and the University of Birmingham are looking for clinical pharmacists that are interested to take part in a research study that aims to explore the views, experiences provision of clinical pharmacy services during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Clinical pharmacists practicing in diverse healthcare settings in Europe who are involved in clinical roles are encouraged to join. For more information please contact Dr Vibhu Paudyal, University of Birmingham, Chair of the Research Committee, via email: v.paudyal[at]bham.ac[dot]uk.

Consult the participants information sheet HERE

 

 

 

Updates from the European Medicines Agency 

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) published new communications linked to the ICMRA vaccine confidence statements and the recommendation of a first COVID-19 treatment for EU authorisation.

ICMRA vaccine confidence statements

EMA has endorsed two statements for healthcare professionals and the general public about the importance, safety and effectiveness of vaccines published by the International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities (ICMRA).

 International regulators from different countries and regions have come together and jointly developed these statements to reassure healthcare professionals and the public around the globe that medicines regulatory authorities only allow vaccines onto the market that fulfil the highest standards for safety, efficacy and quality. In these statements, they also reiterate that it is everyone’s responsibility to get vaccinated in order to protect not only themselves but also their families, friends, communities, vulnerable populations who cannot get immunised as well as the generations to come.

Access the ICMRA statement about confidence in vaccine safety and effectiveness for healthcare professionals HERE

Access the ICMRA statement about confidence in vaccines for the general public HERE

First COVID-19 treatment recommended for EU authorisation 

EMA’s human medicines committee (CHMP) has recommended granting a conditional marketing authorisation to Veklury (remdesivir) for the treatment of COVID-19 in adults and adolescents from 12 years of age with pneumonia who require supplemental oxygen.

Remdesivir is the first medicine against COVID-19 to be recommended for authorisation in the EU. Data on remdesivir were assessed in an exceptionally short timeframe through a rolling review procedure, an approach used by EMA during public health emergencies to assess data as they become available.

The European Commission, which was kept informed by EMA throughout the evaluation, will fast-track the decision-making process and aims to grant a decision on the conditional marketing authorisation for remdesivir in the coming week, allowing the product to be marketed in the EU.

More information is available HERE

Please check EMA’s dedicated webpage on COVID-19 for the latest updates.

EJHP: Read the July issue

The July issue of the European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy (EJHP) is now available. Besides sharing insights on EAHP’s 2019 Medicines Shortages Survey it also touches on the power of cooperation. Its original articles inform about the management and challenges of emergency drug kits at the Danish hospital pharmacies, the Council of Europe Resolution CM/Res(2016)2 and interventions for improving surgical antibiotic prophylaxis adherence and reducing hospital readmissions

Read the July issue HERE

 

 

 

[COVID-19 Updates]

 

EAHP’s COVID-19 Resource Centre

To assist its member associations and individual hospital pharmacists in this critical time with the provision of the best possible care for patients, EAHP has decided to gather and make available information on COVID-19 relevant for the hospital pharmacy profession.

Access the Resource Centre HERE

Alzheimer Europe - Resource Hub

Alzheimer Europe has put together a range of valuable online resources with helpful information, tips and guidelines.

Learn more HERE 

French Society of Anaesthesia & Intensive Care Medicine (SFAR) - Prevention of medication errors in anaesthesia and resuscitation

SFAR and the SFPC have developed joint recommendations for the prevention of medication errors in anaesthesia and resuscitation in times of acute health crisis, based on initial feedback from the COVID-19 period.

Learn more HERE

 

Do you know about the Statement Resources?

Since 2016 EAHP has been working on the implementation of the European Statement of Hospital Pharmacy. To help hospital pharmacists with the putting in practice of the Statements in their pharmacy, EAHP has published resources for each of the 6 Sections. These include for instance case studies and best practice examples. 

Access the Statement Resources HERE

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Consultations 

 

Commission – Roadmap: new EU pharmaceutical strategy

The European Commission is seeking input on its roadmap for the new EU pharmaceutical strategy.

Deadline – 7^th July 2020

Access consultation HERE