EU Monitor – 19th March 2019 EAHP calls on future MEPs
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 publishes health priorities for 2019 EU elections
The European Association of Hospital Pharmacists (EAHP) released its health priorities for the 2019 European Parliament elections. The document addresses future Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) which are going to stand for election in late May. It aims at achieving better patient outcomes with the help of hospital pharmacists.
Hospital pharmacists are the healthcare professionals responsible for ensuring timely and equal access of patients to safe medication and high-quality pharmaceutical care in the hospital sector. As key stakeholders in medication management, they are equipped with unique skills that are crucial in complex hospital settings, thus bringing value to healthcare teams and ensuring the best patient treatment.
The 2019 health priorities of the EAHP are focusing on three key areas, namely
- Addressing medicines shortages;
- Tackling antimicrobial resistance; and,
- Investing into the future of healthcare.
EAHP calls for more international co-operation supported by a comprehensive communication system to address the growing problem of medicines shortages in European hospitals. Antimicrobial resistance, like medicines shortages, can only be lowered through multi-stakeholder engagement. Consequently, MEPs should advocate for a stronger uptake of antimicrobial stewardship teams on national level. Accessibility and affordability are key concerns of patients. Keeping healthcare high on the EU’s agenda will not only ensure that these concerns are addressed but also allow for the increase of coordination and communication in healthcare at EU level which is crucial.
Read EAHP’s 2019 health priorities HERE
Commission releases strategy addressing pharmaceuticals in the environment
The risks posed by pharmaceuticals in the environment have been mentioned increasingly over the past years as an emerging problem. Article 8c of Directive 2008/105/EC on environmental quality standards in the field of water policy mandated the European Commission to develop a strategic approach to water pollution by pharmaceutical substances. This long-awaited strategic document has now been released.
The “Communication on a Strategic Approach to Pharmaceuticals in the Environment” outlines actions which aim at addressing the problems caused by pharmaceutical products entering the environment during their manufacture, use and disposal. The European Commission will approach this problem through
- Increasing awareness and promoting the prudent use of pharmaceutical;
- Supporting the development of pharmaceuticals intrinsically less harmful for the environment and promoting greener manufacturing;
- Improving environmental risk assessment and its review;
- Reducing wastage and improving the management of waste;
- Expanding environmental monitoring; and
- Filling knowledge gaps.
The actions included in the Communication will be initiated, continued or in some cases even be completed in 2020. The involvement of Member States as well as relevant stakeholders is envisioned to jointly tackle the problem of water pollution by pharmaceuticals and antimicrobial resistance.
Read the Communication HERE
COM consultation: Phthalates in medical devices
The European Commission is consulting on preliminary guidelines on the benefit-risk assessment of the presence of phthalates in certain medical devices covering phthalates, which are carcinogenic, mutagenic, toxic to reproduction (CMR) or have endocrine-disrupting (ED) properties.
These guidelines describe how a benefit-risk assessment for the justification of the presence of CMR 1A or 1B and/or ED phthalates (CMR/ED phthalates) in medical devices should be performed by relevant stakeholders. In addition, the document also considers steps for the evaluation of possible alternatives for these phthalates used in medical devices. All interested parties are invited to submit written comments on the preliminary guidelines by 29 April 2019.
More information about the consultation HERE
EJHP: Prescription of proton pump inhibitors in older adults with complex polytherapy
The online first edition of the European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy (EJHP) recently published an original article on the prescription of proton pump inhibitors in older adults with complex polytherapy. The study provides information on a collection of potentially hazardous drug associations and helpful suggestions to improve the quality of prescriptions for elderly patients. In addition, it strengthens the case for synergic work between doctors and pharmacists in the wards.
Read the article HERE
In March 2019 the following events will be organised by EAHP’s member associations:
- 18th+ 19th March – Section for Hospital Pharmacy of the Swedish Pharmaceutical Society: Nordic Precision Medicine Forum (Stockholm, Sweden)
- 22nd+ 23rd March – Spanish Society of Hospital Pharmacists: Reunion of the Galician Region (Ourense, Spain)
- 23rd+ 24th March – Fédération Nationale des Syndicats d'internes en Pharmacie et en Biologie Médicale: 52nd Congress (Grenoble, France)
- 31st March – German Society of Hospital Pharmacists: Unit Dose Academy 2019 (Hamburg, Germany)
[EAHP Statement Corner]
Talk to the Statement team in Barcelona!
EAHP’s annual Congress in Barcelona (Spain) is just around the corner. The Statement Implementation team will be present from 27th to 29thMarch 2019 at EAHP’s booth. Register online for the biggest hospital pharmacy Congress in Europe and visit us at the EAHP booth. The Statement Implementation team is looking forward to answering all of your questions related to the 44 European Statements of Hospital Pharmacy, the self-assessment tool and the Statement Implementation Learning Collaborative Centres (SILCC).
More information about EAHP’s Congress HERE
Register online HERE until 22nd of March!
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Consultations
Public consultation on EMA Regulatory Science to 2025
The purpose of this public consultation is to seek views from EMA’s stakeholders, partners and the general public on EMA’s proposed strategy on Regulatory Science to 2025 and whether it meets stakeholders’ needs. By highlighting where stakeholders see the need as greatest, participants have the opportunity to jointly shape a vision for regulatory science that will in turn feed into the wider EU network strategy in the period 2020-25.
Deadline – 30th June 2019
Access consultation HERE
EMA - Guideline on the evaluation of medicinal products indicated for treatment of bacterial infections
The EMA has launched a consultation on the revision of its guideline on the evaluation of human medicines indicated for the treatment of bacterial infections. Antimicrobial resistance is a global public health problem. Regulators in the European Union, the United States and Japan have had extensive discussions over the last few years to explore and agree how to align as much as possible their respective data requirements so that medicine developers can design clinical trials that meet the evidence needs of multiple regulatory agencies. The revised guidance reflects the outcome of these discussions.
Deadline – 31st July 2019
Access consultation HERE
EMA – Public consultation on key principles for the electronic product information of EU medicines
The European Medicines Agency (EMA), together with the European Commission (EC), has launched a public consultation on draft key principles which will form the basis on which the electronic product information (ePI) for human medicines will be developed and used throughout the European Union. The rationale behind the ePI is that digital platforms open additional possibilities to disseminate the PI electronically. This can address some of the current limitations and better meet patients’ and healthcare professionals’ needs for accessible, up-to-date information on medicines. The draft key principles are the result of extensive discussions and consultations carried out by EMA, the Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA) and the EC throughout 2018, with representatives of all stakeholder groups.
Deadline – 31st July 2019
Access consultation HERE
