The EAHP EU Monitor is a regular round up of news relevant to hospital pharmacy in Europe.

Join us in-person for EAHP2022 in Vienna – registration discount available until the end of January 

Less than 60 days before the start of EAHP’s 26th Congress taking place as an in-person event in Vienna, Austria. Join us and colleagues to learn more about the latest advancements in the hospital pharmacy profession. If you sign up by the end of this month, you will be able to benefit from the special registration rate.

As usually EAHP’s congress is packed full of information to provide insights on the latest developments in the fields of patient-centred communication and teamwork, value-based healthcare, shared decision-making and gene therapy in oncology. If you want to learn more about "Hospital pharmacists – changing roles in a changing world" join us in person from the 23rd to the 25th of March 2022. In addition to attending our interesting and innovative Congress programme, you will also be able to celebrate the 50th anniversary of our association with us. Don’t miss this chance and the opportunity to network with hospital pharmacists from many different countries.

Registration is possible via EAHP’s website. Participants that sign up by the 31st of January 2022 will be able to profit from the special registration.

Register for EAHP’s 26th Congress HERE

Learn more about the programme of EAHP’s 26th Congress HERE

 

 

Accelerating Clinical Trials in the EU (ACT EU) launched

 

Together with the European Commission and the Heads of Medicines Agency (HMA), the European Medicines Agency (EMA) is engaging in an EU clinical trials transformation initiative, called “Accelerating Clinical Trials in the EU (ACT EU)”, intending to transform how clinical trials are initiated, designed and run. It will be co-led by the three bodies.

 

Building on the application of the Clinical Trials Regulation and the launch of the Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS) on 31 January 2022, ACT EU will strengthen the European environment for clinical trials, whilst maintaining the high level of protection of trial participants, data robustness and transparency that EU citizens expect. The ACT EU strategy paper published in mid-January lists ten priority actions for 2022/2023. These cover but are not limited to
• Mapping existing initiatives
• Implementing the Clinical Trial Regulation in a successful and timely manner
• Establishing a multi-stakeholder platform
• Analysing clinical trial data leveraging academic, non-profit, European, and international initiatives
• Reinforcing the coordination between scientific advice on clinical trial approval and design
• Delivering a clinical trials training curriculum

 

Together, EMA, HMA and the European Commission will contribute to achieving the ambitious goals for innovation in clinical trials set out in the European medicines agencies network strategy to 2025 and the European Commission’s Pharmaceutical Strategy.

 

Learn more about ACT EU by reading the strategy paper HERE

 

Budget for 2022 EU4Health Programme adopted

In mid-January, the European Commission adopted the annual budget for this year’s EU4Health Programme. Over €835 million were allocated to finance a variety of ambitious and decisive actions for building more resilient health systems and for paving the way towards the European Health Union.

The budget of the EU4Health programme for 2022, although higher than in the previous year, will continue to be linked to four overarching strands, namely cancer, preparedness, health promotion and disease prevention, health systems and healthcare workforce and digitalization of health. Cancer will also continue to remain a cross-cutting priority for the three other strands. In addition, NGOs will be able to obtain operational grants via the programme. The 2022 EU4Health Work Programme will provide funding to eligible entities from Member States, associated third countries, international organisations, NGOs and the private sector in the form of grants or procurement of specific services.

Access the Commission Implementing Decision HERE

 

 

EJHP: Medication adherence reporting in pivotal clinical trials: overview of oral oncological drugs

A new original article published in the online first edition of the European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy (EJHP) assessed how and to what extent adherence to medication is reported in pivotal clinical trials of oral cancer drugs. Thirty drugs were included in the analysis from 56 clinical trials. Eleven articles (19.6%) contained a mention of medication adherence in the main document, 26 (46.4%) in the supplementary material and 19 (33.9%) did not contain any reference to adherence. Seven studies reported medication adherence between the results, expressed as number of patients discontinuing treatment for non-compliance and mean or median percentage. Based on the findings, it was concluded that medication adherence in pivotal clinical trials of oral oncological drugs is poorly represented. There should be a greater level of reporting in the results and it should be included among the minimum set of recommendations in reporting health research.

Read the article HERE

 

 

 

 

 

[EAHP Statement Corner]

Have you updated your SAT? 

EAHP’s self-assessment tool (SAT) allows hospital pharmacists to assess the level of Statement implementation within their hospitals. When updated regularly, it also provides hospital pharmacists with the possibility to demonstrate progress with their implementation. EAHP recommends doing a quarterly, bi-yearly or yearly assessment depending on the degree of change in practice in order to measure progress in the hospital’s overall score. When have you done your SAT? Check if it is time for an update! You can access your SAT via the following website.

[COVID-19 Updates]

EAHP’s COVID-19 Resource Centre

To assist its member associations and individual hospital pharmacists in this critical time with the provision of the best possible care for patients, EAHP has decided to gather and make available information on COVID-19 relevant for the hospital pharmacy profession.

Access the Resource Centre HERE

[Spotlight]

EAHP Position Paper on Hospital Pharmacy Specialisation

Hospital pharmacists are the key stakeholders responsible for medication management and safety in the hospital environment, covering both in- and out-patient services and supporting the seamless transition of care for patients moving within the healthcare system. To provide the best treatment for all patients, hospital pharmacists must be able to operate in a complex hospital setting and work collaboratively within multi-disciplinary healthcare teams.

To prepare the hospital pharmacy profession for the future, the European Association of Hospital Pharmacists (EAHP) adopted the European Statements of Hospital Pharmacy in 2014. They express commonly agreed objectives that every European health system should aim for in the delivery of hospital pharmacy services. To further enhance the quality, safety and equity of access to patient care in every European country, EAHP additionally created the Common Training Framework (CTF) project for hospital pharmacy education in Europe. This project not only fosters the further development of hospital pharmacy practice but also seeks to guarantee the access of European citizens to the highest available standard of care and the freedom of movement of the hospital pharmacy profession which is currently not accessible to all.

In June 2021, EAHP's General Assembly adopted a Position Paper on Hospital Pharmacy Specialisation. The position centres around advancing the profession by harmonising the recognition of hospital pharmacy education, enhancing the role of the hospital pharmacist and preparing the profession for future challenges.

To make a difference in medication by advancing the hospital pharmacy profession, EAHP

• calls on the European Commission and the Member States to assist the Association in setting up a CTF through the adoption of a delegated act;
• touches on the need for Member States to recognise the changing role of the hospital pharmacists and further foster their implementation; and,
• underlines the importance of further promoting the uptake of such cross-sector tools inter-sector communication, coordination and multi-disciplinary collaboration in all healthcare facilities should be strengthened.

To adequately address future challenges linked to the ageing society, changing healthcare needs and other unknown factors, like future pandemics, EAHP urges that Member States invest in better workforce planning for the hospital pharmacy profession, including the availability of hospital pharmacy services for all patients of each hospital.

Read EAHP's Position Paper on Hospital Pharmacy Specialisation HERE

EDQM - European Paediatric Formulary: two draft texts released for public consultation

The European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare (EDQM) has released Issue 4 of Pharmeuropa PaedForm, which contains two texts for public consultation, Simple syrup (preservative-free) and Phosphate 60 mg/mL Oral solution.

Deadline – 31st March 2022

Learn more about the consultation and contribute HERE