EAHP EU Monitor - 19 September 2017
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 Survey – results published in EJHP
The results of the 2016 Statement survey have been published in the latest issue of the European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy (EJHP). The 2016 European Association of Hospital Pharmacists (EAHP) Statements survey builds on previous surveys and represents the final step in the first cycle of the revised format of the EAHP annual survey. It covers sections 1 (Introductory statements and governance), 3 (Production and compounding) and 4 (Clinical pharmacy service) of the European Statements.
Like the previous surveys, the 2016 EAHP Statements survey addresses three sections focusing on general hospital pharmacy data, current activities of pharmacists and the readiness and ability of the hospital to implement the statements. 750 responses from EAHPs 35 member countries were collected. The majority of the participating hospital pharmacies had ≤10 pharmacists, with almost half serving over 500 beds. Questions addressing production and compounding in Section 3 revealed that responders are having less difficulty implementing these statements compared the ones of Section 4. Mixed reactions were provided in relation to the introductory statements and governance questions of Section 1.
Data collected via the survey will deepen EAHPs knowledge of the level of implementation of sections 1, 3 and 4 of the Statements. In addition, it helps to identify the main barriers to, and drivers of, implementation. Clinical pharmacy services and participation in multidisciplinary teams are the most challenging Statements for implementation in hospital pharmacies, while the most important barrier to implementation is insufficient capacity and different priorities of hospital and health system managers.
Read the complete article HERE
FIP global survey – pharmacy at a glance
The World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences saw the launch of "Pharmacy at a glance: 2015–2017" – a global survey of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP). It provides readers with information on the state of the pharmacy profession at global level for both community and hospital pharmacy services. Data on the distribution of pharmacists in different sectors and access to pharmacies, models of generic medicines dispensing/substitution and the availability of medicines online is summarised in eight infographics out of which two are specifically dedicated to hospital pharmacies.
Regarding hospital pharmacies, the study investigated the scope of practice by surveying the extend of implementation of a set of activities and services. These were clustered in four groups addressing the influence on procurement and prescribing, the preparation and delivery of medicines, monitoring of medicines use as well as other activities and services. It was not only investigated if these service are available but also if they can be considered as part of mainstream hospital pharmacy practice.
The most common services reported were the provision of support to emergency departments (by 69 out of 72 respondents), reporting of adverse reactions to medicines (by 68 out of 72 respondents) and the participation in pharmacy and therapeutic committees (by 68 out of 72 respondents). The responsible use of medicines is adhered to through the implementation of antibiotic stewardship initiatives as well as infection control and prevention strategies. Recently introduced technical innovations – such as clinical pharmacogenomic testing – are services that are not yet available within the majority of the participating hospital pharmacies.
Learn more HERE
EMA survey – Reporting side effects of medicines
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has launched a survey that seeks to assess whether patients as well as healthcare professionals are aware of the arrangements for reporting side effects. The results of the survey will be analysed by EMA and the European Commission. Conclusions drawn on the attitudes and reporting behaviours of healthcare professionals and patients will be published in 2018.
The questionnaire is available in all official European Union languages and takes no more than 10 minutes to complete. All healthcare professionals – including hospital pharmacists – are encouraged to provide feedback to EMA.
Submit your response by 9 October HERE
Safer Europe Without Falsified Medicines – Don't forget to register
The Estonian State Agency of Medicines and the Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers in Estonia are honoured to host the international "Safer Europe Without Falsified Medicines" Conference together with the Ministry of Social Affairs during the period Estonia is holding the presidency of the Council of the EU. The Conference will take place in Tallinn from 8 to 9 November at Kultuurikatel.
The main focus of the Conference will be the implementation of safety features appearing on the packaging of medicinal products for human use in the European Union that come into effect February 2019 (Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/161). The practical aspects of the preparations made by governments and stakeholders, also including the legal and IT aspects and challenges that need to be solved in Member States, will be discussed.
In the Conference the following topics will be covered:
- Overview of the situation concerning falsified medicines in the European Union and worldwide, and the requirements in the EU;
- The stakeholders' model for the implementation of safety features – European and national repositories, verification organisations, readiness of involved users;
- The main challenges facing the implementation of safety features for Member States and how to get the most value from the new system: future developments, additional applications, co-operation of the Member States;
- How the implementation of safety features will influence the availability of medicines.
The Conference will be organised in co-operation with: Ministry of Social Affairs, Estonian State Agency of Medicines (SAM), Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers in Estonia (APME), European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), European medicines verification organisation (EMVO), European Healthcare Distribution Association (GIRP), Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union (PGEU), European Association of Euro-Pharmaceutical Companies (EAEPC), Medicines For Europe (MfE), Estonian Pharmacies Association (EAÜ), Estonian Association of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers (RHL).
Participation in the Conference will be free of charge for all the stakeholders. Participants of the Conference will get a special discount at Nordic Hotel Forum, Go Hotel Shnelli or PK Ilmarine Hotel with the password fmd.
For more information on the Conference, please visit the website
EJHP: Improvement of drug prescribing in acute kidney injury
The online first edition of the European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy (EJHP) has published an original article which addresses improvements of drug prescribing in acute kidney injury (AKI) with a nephrotoxic drug alter system. Findings of the analysis showed that clinical decision support systems with interruptive alerts providing real time information for patients with nephrotoxic drug prescription have a positive impact on the judicious use of these drugs.
More HERE
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Consultations
Public Consultation on Health and Care in the Digital Single Market
The European Commission has launched a public consultation on transformation of health and care in the Digital Single Market. The consultation investigates the need for policy measures that will promote digital innovation for better health and care in Europe and feed into a new Policy Communication to be adopted by the end of 2017. Participation is open to citizens, patient organisations, health and care professionals, public authorities, researchers, industries, investors and users of digital health tools.
Deadline – 12th October
More information HERE
EMA - Guideline on good pharmacovigilance practices (GVP) - Product- or population-specific considerations IV: paediatric population
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is consulting on the guideline addressing good pharmacovigilance practices specifically targeting the paediatric population which was recently updated. This guidance should be read in conjunction with Title IV of the Paediatric Regulation and its Article 34, Regulation (EC) No 726/2004 and Directive 2001/83/EC.
Deadline – 13th October
More information HERE
EMA – Reflection paper on the pharmaceutical development of medicines for use in the older population
The reflection paper describes aspects that medicines developers may consider when designing medicines for older people, such as selecting appropriate routes of administration and dosage forms, dosing frequency, excipients, container closure systems, devices and technologies, and user instructions in the product information. It is intended to communicate the current status of discussions on the pharmaceutical development of medicines that may be used in the older population.
Deadline – 31st January 2018
More information HERE
Upcoming events
26th September – EMA: Public hearing on valproate
London, United Kingdom
The hearing of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) is part of an ongoing review of valproate-containing medicines in the treatment of women or girls who are pregnant or of childbearing age. Those wishing to participate at the hearing, which will take place at the EMA offices in London, need to register in advance and may request to speak in front of the Committee or simply observe the proceedings. Those unable to attend the hearing in person can follow the live broadcast on EMA's website.
1st October - 12th European meeting of Women Pharmacists
The 12th European meeting of Women Pharmacists will cover all pharmacy sectors with a focus on broadening horizons and knowledge. EAHP President Joan Peppard will be part of a workshop on career advancement that will focus on new roles and qualifications required in hospital pharmacy.
