EU Monitor – 10 January Bye-bye 2018, hello 2019

 

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. 

 

Bye-bye 2018, hello 2019

2018 was a very busy year for the European Association of Hospital Pharmacists (EAHP). The association launched its labour mobility survey in January 2018 which showed that 85% of hospital pharmacists and heads of hospital pharmacy that participated in the survey would support the creation of a Common Training Framework (CTF) for the hospital pharmacy specialisation. The results of this survey made it clear that hospital pharmacists are interested in pursuing their free movement rights. Consequently, EAHP continued to push the CTF project forward throughout 2018 and will continue to pursue it in 2019.

Hospital pharmacists from all over the world gathered from 21st to 23rd March 2018 in Gothenburg, Sweden to hear more about the achievements of their profession and to get inspired for future developments. Three keynotes focusing on global health, marketing and the profession itself drew over 3400 hospital pharmacists to the second largest city in Sweden. Workshops, seminars and EAHP's synergy programme - which featured 5 Synergy Satellites on biosimilars in cancer and breast cancer care, biologics, anticoagulation and automation - rounded off the three-day event.

EAHP’s General Assembly in June 2018 marked the start of Petr Horák’s three-year term in office as new EAHP President. In addition, it saw the adoption of three position papers. A new position paper on procurement advocating for the involvement of hospital pharmacists was agreed upon by the delegates. The position on antimicrobial resistance was reviewed to put a stronger emphasis on the contribution by hospital pharmacists to antibiotic stewardship. Also the paper on biosimilar medicines was updated.  A technical review allowed for the inclusion of a reference to the Information Guide for Healthcare Professionals on Biosimilars in the EU prepared by the European Commission and the European Medicines Agency. 

Autumn 2018 was an exciting period for the association due to a mix between old and new events. Like every year, two Academy Seminars were organised for EAHP members. They covered “Medicines Shortages – Causation and Approaches to Improvements” and “Therapeutic Drug Monitoring as a Tool for Therapy Optimisation”. However, apart from the old, there was also a brand new activity to be experienced, namely EAHP’s very first Synergy Masterclass on Management and Leadership. The event was hosted in Brussels and focused on innovative medicines management strategies, decision-making and individual as well as team development. It was open to hospital pharmacists and other professionals working the healthcare sector. After the event, participants highlighted that they welcomed the unique opportunity to get acquainted with different management techniques in a very interactive atmosphere.

October also marked the release of the 2018 EAHP Statements Survey questions which focused this time on Sections 1, 3 and 4 – linked to the introductory part of the Statements and governance, production and compounding as well as clinical pharmacy services. The Statement surveys are a tool to measure the progress of the implementation of the European Statements of Hospital Pharmacy. The preliminary results of the 2018 EAHP Statements Survey will be made available to EAHP members in March 2019. The publication of the full report is expected in June 2019. 

The year finished off with the release of EAHP’s 2018 Medicines Shortages Report which underlined that medicines shortages remain a major problem for patients in European hospitals. At an event in the Brussels Press Club, EAHP representatives, panellists and attendees representing patients and the different supply chain actors affected by medicines shortages, had a lively discussion on the topic. Many survey participants remarked that reliable communication listing the reasons, estimated durations, and other advice to pharmacists, prescribers and patients is still missing. The EAHP consequently called on national governments and the European Commission to improve the communication on medicines shortages.

In March 2019, EAHP will be welcoming hospital pharmacists to Barcelona. The 24thCongress of the association will offer many interesting sessions on the theme “Personalised Hospital Pharmacy – meeting the needs of every patient”. It’s not too late for the early bird registration. Make sure you register before 31stJanuary 2019 to attend the Congress from 27thto 29thMarch at a discounted rate. 

Also the date for the next Synergy Masterclass has been set. On 4thand 5thOctober 2019, EAHP will be hosting professionals that want to hear more about procurement, tendering and decision making processes in the hospital setting. During the two-day training event insights on EU legislation, procurement and tenders at national, regional and hospital level as well as on the elements of value-based procurement will be shared.

More information about EAHP’s 24thCongress in Barcelona HERE

More information about EAHP’s upcoming Synergy Masterclass on Procurement HERE

Consultation on EMA’s Regulatory Science Strategy

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has opened a consultation for its draft ‘Regulatory Science to 2025’ document which seeks to obtain feedback on the agencies plan for advancing its engagement with regulatory science over the next five to ten years. It covers both human and veterinary medicines.

The strategy will help shape the vision for the next EU Medicines Agencies Network Strategy (2020–2025). It aims at offering informed guidance on modern medicines development, facilitate the optimisation of regulatory science and critically assess the benefits and risks of innovative therapies and diagnostics based on new technologies. Stakeholders, such as hospital pharmacists are invited by EAHP to send their comments via an online questionnaire by 30 June 2019.

Access the consultation HERE

Read the draft strategy HERE

 

Romanian Council Presidency

On 1stJanuary, Romania has taken over the EU’s rotating Council presidency from Austria with a commitment to put an emphasis on cohesion. To achieve this goal Romania’s presidency will focus on four main priorities: Europe of convergence, a safer Europe, Europe as a strong global actor and Europe of common values.

Romania’s detailed presidency programme will only be made available on 15thJanuary. However, it is already clear that work in the field of health will among other things be focusing on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and vaccination. Two high level events, one on making the EU a best practice region in the field of AMR and one on vaccination programmes in the EU are planned in the coming months.

During its presidency, Romania will work closely with Finland and Croatia. This trio has set long-term goals until mid-2020 and prepared a common agenda determining the topics and major issues that will be addressed by the Council over this period. In relation to health, the group will be looking at making further efforts in order to guarantee access to healthcare for all EU citizens, ensure patient safety and mobility, and take advantage of the opportunities posed by new medical technologies. 

Find out more about the Romanian presidency HERE

Read the Council 18-month programme HERE

 

EURORDIS – 3rdMulti-Stakeholder Symposium on Improving Patients’ Access to Rare Disease Therapies

The EAHP has partnered with EURORDIS – the voice of rare disease patients in Europe – for its 3rd Multi-Stakeholder Symposium on Improving Patients’ Access to Rare Disease Therapies. The event will take place in Brussels on 13thand 14thFebruary under the theme “Let’s make a pact to ensure patients’ sustainable access to rare disease therapies”. Discussion with patient advocates, policy makers, payers, HTA bodies, clinicians, healthcare industry executives and investors will focus on how to improve patients’ access to rare disease medicines.

Prior to the symposium, two webinars will be organised. The first will take place the week commencing 21 January and combine breakout sessions 1 & 4 – covering research and development as well as evidence generation linked to healthcare budget spending. The second will take place the week commencing 27 January and focus on early dialogues and European cooperation. 

On the evening preceding the Symposium, EURORDIS will be holding the EURORDIS Black Pearl Awards. It is an annual awards ceremony established to raise awareness and recognise the outstanding achievements of people making a difference for the rare disease community, bringing together all stakeholders and strengthening the community in a positive and empowering way. 

Find out more about the Symposium and its side events HERE 

EJHP: January Issue now available!

The January issue of the European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy (EJHP) is now available, featuring articles on the selection of interventions aimed at improving medication adherence in patients with multimorbidity, pharmacotherapy within a learning healthcare system and the challenge and opportunities of bioethics for hospital pharmacists. In addition to the two editorials on adverse-event management and reporting for electronic-cigarettes and the publication of protocols, the January issue of the EJHP has also published EAHP’s position paper on eHealth and mHealth.

Read more HERE

 

 

  

 

[EAHP Statement Corner]

Have you thought about visiting another European hospital in 2019?

EAHP’s Statement Implementation Learning Collaborative programme (SILCC) is your opportunity to experience the daily work of a fellow hospital pharmacist in another European hospital pharmacy. The programme provides you with the unique opportunity to broaden your horizon by learning more about pharmacy procedures linked to the European Statements of Hospital Pharmacy. As SILCC Fellow you can choose between host institutions in Germany, Hungary, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Have a look at the registration requirementsand hand in your application today!

 

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Consultations

 

 

 

EDQM – European Paediatric Formulary consultation

The European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare (EDQM) has launched a public consultation on the first two pilot monographs and on two general texts for its European Paediatric Formulary. European pharmacists and paediatricians are invited to share their feedback on the draft monographs on Hydrochlorothiazide oral solution and on Sotalol oral solution.

Deadline – 31stJanuary 2019

More information HERE 

EMA - Draft guideline on clinical investigation of medicinal products in the treatment of epileptic disorders

The present document is a third revision of the existing guideline. The main changes to the existing guideline include incorporation of the new classification / definitions of seizure types and epilepsies, the acceptance of add-on studies in support of a monotherapy claim on a case-by-case basis, the inclusion of new sections on neonates and status epilepticus and other changes related to paediatric developments. The scope of this document is restricted to treatment of seizures in epileptic disorder although there are some remarks concerning non-seizure features of epilepsy syndromes.

Deadline – 17th February 2019

More information HERE

Survey on patients opinion about drug shortages

COST Action CA 15105 on medicines shortages invites you to participate in a qualitative study regarding patients’ perspective about medicine shortages during hospital stay. Hospital pharmacists are encouraged to question interested patients who are willing to share their experience with medicines shortages. Questions in relation to this survey activity can be address by email to Darija Kuruc Poje (darijakuruc21[at]gmail[dot]com). 

Deadline – 1stMarch 2019

Access the survey HERE