EAHP wishes to draw attention to Rare Disease Day 2011 which was organised on 28 February this year around the slogan “rare but equal”.

Knowledge of rare diseases, orphan drugs and the particular clinical needs of certain patients groups are an important part of the hospital pharmacists role. This is has been acknowledged in EAHP’s contribution to the EU funded Pharmacy Education in European project (Pharmine). The Pharmine project identified knowledge of rare diseases as a specific competence of the hospital pharmacist and one which should form part of the curricula for specialisation in hospital pharmacy.

Readers are invited to learn more about initiatives organised across Europe to raise awareness about rare diseases on the Rare Disease Day website http://www.rarediseaseday.org/