Striving for professional recognition of hospital pharmacy at all relevant levels, implies for hospital pharmacists the full acquaintance of our professional art, its performance and its development. We should be able to present our profession as an advanced and progressive one and as a valuable partner within the health professional alliance which, in every health care system of individual European countries, brings the medical doctor, the pharmacist, the nurse and the patient together.
In the year 2005, EAHP performed the third pan-European survey on the state-of-the-art and development of hospital pharmacy which is managed by more than 21,000 hospital pharmacists throughout Europe.

Twenty-two out of 26 EAHP country members participated in the latest survey and provided data from 825 hospitals. The analysis of the results is presented as a comparison between the countries and, where possible also the comparison between the results of previous surveys that took place in the year of 1995 and 2000.

Some countries are very well represented within the total scope of activities of hospital pharmacies as shown in this analysis, some others are less, which should be taken into account when using and evaluating the given data. All delegations of the participating countries have given proof of the representativeness of the sample used in their countries for the results, whatever size it is.

The way hospital pharmacists perform their duties throughout Europe with regard to supplying drugs, counselling patients and relationship with the medical staff undoubtedly differs from country to country. Therefore, it is important to be aware of these differences and recognise them if we are to further improve our professional knowledge and everyday practice. Awareness of a superior knowledge in a country should put this country in the position to help the less advanced countries in their practice, thus reducing the differences between the different parts of Europe.

We are proud to present here the results of the EAHP Survey 2005, which will enable us to evaluate and compare our professional work.

These results are to be an incentive for our professional and personal development and will further help promote the values of our profession within our work places and society in general for the benefit of the patients.

Tajda Miharija Gala
EAHP Director of Professional Developement