Linked to the EAHP Statements:

Section 1 – Introductory Statements and Governance: Statement 1.6
Section 2 – Selection, Procurement and Distribution: Statements 2.1, 2.6
Section 4 – Clinical Pharmacy Services: Statement 4.6
Section 5 – Patient safety and Quality Assurance: Statements 5.2, 5.5

ACPE UAN: 0475-0000-18-030-L04-P. A knowledge based activity.

Abstract

Swedish hospital pharmacy has changed in recent years from being completely uniform across the country – within a state-owned monopoly that also ran all community pharmacies – to become more and more diverse; the monopoly gone (in 2006) and hospital pharmacy adapting to local requirements of each county.

Hospital pharmacy is being run by various private companies in different counties, winning contracts through procurement processes. The contracts include anything from one service (such as sterile compounding) to the whole package. Hospital pharmacy is hence developing in partnership between the county councils and pharmacy operators, regulated by national regulations.

The first 5-10 after the fall of the monopoly, hospital pharmacy was struggling to find its identity and direction. Now, 2017, the hospital pharmacy "function" in each hospital has gained strength and the future is looking brighter with many counties starting to arrange hospital pharmacy services within their own organization.

Sweden was very early in having all processes in healthcare completely electronic. Electronic medical journal, medication administration records, prescriptions and ward supply. For the last decade, focus has been on introducing electronic prescribing support, linking systems between secondary and secondary care.

Clinical pharmacy in a hospital setting is growing, especially in certain parts of Sweden and the demand is starting to exceed the supply of pharmacists with a postgraduate degree in clinical pharmacy. For the last few years, pharmacy technicians (and Swedish receptarier, "pharmacists" with a three-year university degree) have been in high demand, primarily because of a national shortage of nurses.

Learning objectives

After the session, the participant should be able to:
• Describe how hospital pharmacy is organised in Sweden today
• Define which factors have aided and hindered progress of hospital pharmacy in Sweden
• Describe the role of pharmacist in the support of best practice

Educational need addressed

The Swedish hospital pharmacy system is - for better or worse - unique in Europe. This session will provide participants with good ideas and initiatives, from fields where Sweden is at the forefront of development as well as valuable lessons learnt in fields where Sweden is behind or simply applying whole other systems.

Keywords: hospital pharmacy organisation, clinical pharmacy, electronic health systems