Who we are

The European Association of Hospital Pharmacists represents more than 27.000 hospital pharmacists in 36 European countries and is the only association of national organisations representing hospital pharmacists at European and international levels.

How has the EAHP developed?

At a scientific congress in Strasbourg a number of hospital pharmacists from different European countries decided that they should establish a new European association to represent their common interests. Thus in 1969, the seeds of EAHP were sown. On 6 March 1972, the representatives of six European countries signed the first Statutes of the European Association of Hospital Pharmacists, in The Hague, The Netherlands. The first President of EAHP was Marcel Lebas from France.

The first member countries were Belgium, Britain, Denmark, France, the Federal Republic of Germany and The Netherlands. In 1973, Ireland and Spain joined EAHP, soon followed by Norway, Greece, Austria, Sweden and Switzerland. In the 1990s, Italy, Portugal, Hungary, Luxembourg, Finland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia and the Czech Republic became members. Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Serbia, Turkey, North Macedonia, Bulgaria and Bosnia Herzegovina followed. In 2012, Iceland joined the association, followed by Malta and Romania in 2013 and Montenegro in 2016. More recently, Cyprus became a member of EAHP.

Membership within EAHP is open to countries members of the Council of Europe.

On the 1st of August 2011, the EAHP officially became an International Not-for-Profit Organization, and adjusted its policy to better face modern challenges.

EAHP Mission

EAHP represents and develops the hospital pharmacy profession within Europe in order to ensure the continuous improvement of care and outcomes for patients in the hospital setting. This is achieved through science, research, education, practice, as well as sharing best-practice and responsibility with other healthcare professionals.

What are the goals of the EAHP?

  • in the interest of patients and public health, to promote and further develop hospital pharmacy and to obtain and maintain general joint pharmaceutical principles and a joint pharmaceutical policy;
  • to foster research and education activities on behalf of hospital pharmacy, in order to allow hospital pharmacists in all countries which are members of the Council of Europe from time to time (hereinafter "Countries in the European Region") to contribute optimally to public health and furthermore anything directly or indirectly related or beneficial thereto, all in the broadest sense of the word;
  • to promote cooperation with other organisations in the domain of public health;
  • to promote the position and function of hospital pharmacists;
  • to support and uphold the interests of hospital pharmacists at the European Union authorities;
  • to support and uphold the interests of hospital pharmacists at the Council of Europe authorities;
  • to support and undergo everything related to the above that may be conducive to carrying out the Association's purpose.

EAHP Scientific Committee - Educational Mission

The European Association of Hospital Pharmacists is committed to providing educational innovation and training of hospital pharmacists to a level of specialisation and maintain continuing professional development (CPD). We will facilitate and enhance the professional growth of European hospital pharmacists and develop hospital pharmacy in order to promote the best and safest use of medicines and medical devices for the benefit of patients in Europe.

EAHP Scientific Committee - Educational Goals

  • To identify the educational needs of EAHP members and prepare educational programmes to meet those needs
  • To provide knowledge and application based educational programmes to assist pharmacists who practice in hospitals meet their patient care responsibilities and expand their professional roles and goals.
  • To share best practice, innovation and educational programmes that can be applied to daily practice
  • To promote hospital pharmacy practice research
 
*EAHP defines Continuing Pharmacy Education (CPE) as per the ACPE definition which states that "Continuing education for the profession of pharmacy is a structured educational activity designed or intended to support the continuing development of pharmacists and/or pharmacy technicians to maintain and enhance their competence. Continuing pharmacy education (CPE) should promote problem-solving and critical thinking and be applicable to the practice of pharmacy. "

Structure of the EAHP

The prime governing body is the General Assembly, which meets annually and elects the Board of the Association. The General Assembly is a delegate conference at which each member state may have up to three delegates. Every delegation has one vote regardless of size.

The Board of Directors is the Executive Body of the Association and is elected for a three-year term of office, with the possibility to be re-elected. The responsibility for the core activities of the association are shared between the different directors. The Board normally meets four times a year in addition to meetings during the Congress and the General Assembly.

The Board carries out the policies agreed at the General Assembly, and designs and coordinates the implementation of the strategic goals of the association, with the support of the EAHP staff. In addition, the Board is closely involved in the control of the official journal of the Association, European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy (EJHP). The Board is also closely involved in the organisation of the annual EAHP Congress of Hospital Pharmacy, with one director chairing the congress organising committee and another chairing the scientific committee.

Every year, at the General Assembly, the Director of Finances discloses all the expenses and revenues and explains them in detail. Members would have had the opportunity to study them before the General Assembly meeting as they receive the files at least 6 weeks prior the General Assembly meeting.

EAHP is funded by:

  • membership dues
  • revenues generated by the yearly congress
  • advertising revenue related to the annual congress
  • gifts
  • educational grants
  • subsidies and donations
  • all other income legally obtained.

All accounts are audited both by EAHP auditors, appointed by the General Assembly and external auditors.

Click HERE to view the EAHP Statutes.

Click HERE to view the EAHP Code of Conduct.

EAHP partners with ClimateCare 

EAHP join forces with climate and sustainable development experts from ClimateCare to offset the carbon emissions associated with the air travel of the Association’s Board members to and from Board meetings. Through projects which tackle global climate change. 

By offsetting emissions through ClimateCare, EAHP is supporting projects that make a measurable difference to people’s lives. The LifeStraw Carbon For Water project relies on finance from offsetting to deliver safe water to 4 million people in Kenya. It was the first project to link water provision with carbon credits at scale and has been recognised by the United Nations. The Gyapa Stoves project supports local entrepreneurs to manufacture and distribute safe, efficient cookstoves to households in Ghana. Run on the ground by our partners Relief International, the Gyapa Stove cuts charcoal use by up to 50%, saving families money and reducing harmful smoke emissions.

Last update: 13 June 2023