The EAHP
Thursday 24 March 2022
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EAHP President András Süle during the Opening Ceremony on 23rd March
Discover what EAHPP has achieved over
EAHP 50 Anniversary y Walk History
photo: Mariona Ribò
th
Exhibition, bition, ti Hall H ll X2
right opposite the EAHP booth
A MESSAGE FROM THE SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
Hospital pharmacists are embracing new challenges
T
he era in which hospital pharmacists were just box movers, triggered by a medical prescription, is way behind us. The evolution of hospital pharmacy follows a steep curve and has not yet reached the summit. The quick changing scene gives us the opportunity to embrace new challenges and responsibilities for our profession.
ards such as PIC/s PE10, GMP and GPP. In order to fulfil our needs, new technology as 3D-printing of oral doses, compounding robots for injectables and cytotoxic drugs, and even production of ATMP and bacteriophages are finding their way to the hospital pharmacy. To contain the costs, compounding sites are working for multiple hospitals or networks resulting in dose-banding, strict planning and make-or-buy analysis to guarantee timely delivery to the patient.
First there is the continuing implementation of clinical pharmacy services, both front and back office, to optimize the given pharmaceutical care. To achieve this in a cost-effective way, clinical rules, predication algorithms and even machine learning are added to our toolbox, next to inevitable pharmacological knowledge. Hospital pharmacists are truly integrated in multidisciplinary teams around the patient.
Sky-high prices for new therapies, the risk for counterfeit medication, the strive for the lowest acquisition cost and the pandemic of shortages are more than challenging to our teams. The shortening length of stay, hospital at home projects and remote-pharmacy services enter new parameters into the equation. Last but not least, the requirement, from a patient safety perspective, to trace everything into the patient redraws the pharmaceutical process. Also here, automation, digitisation and expertise are part of the solution.
Secondly, compounding is lifted to the next level with authorities requesting for complying with quality stand-
Publisher European Association of Hospital Pharmacists (EAHP) Jennie De Greef, Managing Director Blvd Brand Whitlock 87 – 4th floor – 1200 Brussels (BE) www.eahp.eu Printer C. Angerer & Göschl Friedmanngasse 61 – 1160 Wien (A) office@angerer-goeschl.at
Personalised therapies, the medical device regulation, the empowered patient as co-therapist and the awareness of the importance of ecological aspects and a healthy work-life valance only add to these challenges. Moreover, hospital pharmacists are more often involved in pharmaceutical research and are sought after as esteemed key opinion leaders to advise the authorities when formulating policies or fighting pandemics. These high demands require well-trained professionals and therefore EAHP advocates for a high quality common training framework across Europe and facilitates transfer of knowledge. This guarantees future generations of experts in pharmacology, patient counselling, patient safety, compounding, dispensing and research; with an eye for financial, logistical and people management. Prof. Dr. Thomas De Rijdt EAHP Scientific Committee Chairman
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