6th March 2013

The 18th Congress of the European Association of Hospital Pharmacists (EAHP), to be held in Paris in one week’s time, will place a unique spotlight on issues of inter-professional collaboration through its theme: “Improving patient outcomes: a shared responsibility”.

With the support of all the congress sponsors, the event looks set to break new records in terms of the number of events, breadth of attendance and use of technology.

The 2013 congress will see the introduction of the Synergy satellite programme, run alongside the packed programme of speakers, workshops and seminars investigating hospital pharmacy operational, conceptual and therapeutic matters. EAHP are also delighted to host a special welcome session for attendees from China and a session greeting a record number of student attendees.

The offical congress twitter hashtag #EAHP13 will also enable professionals, patients and other interested parties to join in the discussion, wherever they may happen to be.

Congress organiser and EAHP Chief Operating Officer Jennie de Greef said:

“The congress is a highlight of the European hospital pharmacy year, constituting an unrivalled gathering of the profession. It is designed to fuel change-makers with not only the latest concepts in best practice, but also very practical structures and examples of how to achieve it.

With a week to go the excitement is really building and I look forward to the unique atmosphere of idea-sharing that is our Association's privilege to facilitate.

Finally, I would also like to thank our congress Platinum Partner Amgen, Gold Partner Bayer and Corporate Partner Pfizer for helping to make continual improvement of the congress possible.”

EAHP President Dr Roberto Frontini said:

“This year’s theme “Improving patient outcomes – a shared responsibility” is a real hot topic for everyone who works in the health service and covers almost every facet of daily practice. This, in my view, is the real purpose of a congress - to ask the difficult questions and take time to consider the correct answers.

I am confident next week’s event will be a meaningful contribution to the discussion about not only why we need to improve inter-professional working, but perhaps more importantly, how we can achieve it. The EAHP Congress is an event not to be missed for everyone who is passionate about hospital pharmacy practice improvement on behalf of patients.”

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1) EAHP is an association of national organisations representing hospital pharmacists at European and international levels. More information about the EAHP here.

2) The 18th Congress of the EAHP is taking place at Le Palais des Congrès de Paris from Wednesday 13th March to Friday 15th March. The congress theme is "Improving patient outcomes: a shared responsibility". The full programme of the congress, and other information, is available here.

3) Details of the press conference at the 18th Congress of the EAHP, taking place on Tuesday 12th March, and other information for members of the media, are available here: http://www.eahp.eu/press-room

4) Further information about the Synergy Satellite programme is available here.

5) The official EAHP congress twitter hashtag is #EAHP13