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. 

 

Celebrate EAHP’s 25^th Congress anniversary 

The European Association of Hospital Pharmacists (EAHP) cordially invites hospital pharmacists from all across the globe to join the anniversary celebration of its Congress, taking place between 25^th to 27^th March 2020 in Gothenburg. 

The programme focuses on the future of patient care and picks up on some topics that are high on the priority  list of the European institutions, namely digitalisation and the use of artificial intelligence. Hospital pharmacy specific topics, such as for example pharmacy prescribing, new strategies to overcome medicines shortages and the transfer of care, will also not be neglected. In addition to three keynotes, the 2 ½-day educational events offers several different seminars, workshops and interactive sessions. Students and young graduates have the opportunity to join the dedicated student programme focusing this year on collaboration of healthcare professionals. 

Three Synergy Satellite events will familiarise participants with antithrombotic stewardship and biosimilars used in cancer care:

• “Oncology biosimilars – Hospital pharmacists making the difference” (sponsored by an educational grant from Amgen) 
• “The Hospital Pharmacist’s role in antithrombotic stewardship” (sponsored by an educational grant from Bayer)
• “Biosimilars in colorectal cancer - what's your gut feeling” (sponsored by an educational grant from Pfizer)

Online registration for anniversary EAHP’s Congress will close five days prior to the event. Onsite registration is possible. 

Register HERE

Access the programme HERE

 

EAHP’s Annual Report for 2019 is out!

EAHP released its 2019 Annual Report which summarises the Association’s achievements in the past year. The report shares information about EAHP’s educational programme, projects, such as the Common Training Framework and the European Statements of Hospital Pharmacy, and advocacy work. Many activities centred around medicines shortages, a problem that is encountered by hospital pharmacists across all of EAHP’s 35 member countries. 

In addition to its Synergy Satellite Programme and its Synergy Masterclasses, EAHP introduced Synergy Certification Courses in 2019. This educational events allows hospital pharmacists and other healthcare professionals that don't have the opportunity to attend the Congress or other EAHP events to receive training on topics linked with the European Statements of Hospital Pharmacy. The Synergy Certification Courses are bilingual to ensure broad participation. Other milestones mentioned in the Annual report, include the 5^th Anniversary of the European Statements of Hospital Pharmacy and the successful implementation of the Statement Implementation Learning Collaborative Centres (SILCC) programme.

Reach EAHP’s 2019 Annual Report HERE

European Strategy for Data – shaping Europe’s digital future

On 19^th February, the European Commission published its European Strategy for Data. This five-year plan focuses on innovative technologies, a data-driven single market and a digitalised society for the EU. Also, the EU’s new White Paper on Artificial Intelligence (AI) was made available which outlines the Union’s ideas for the creation of a trustworthy framework for AI. Feedback on both documents is gathered via public consultations that run until 19^th Ma

 

The Data Strategy describes the EU’s vision for a European data space which will seeks to unlock unused data, allowing it to flow freely within the European Union and across sectors for the benefit of businesses, researchers and public administrations. As a first step towards the creation of this data space, the European Commission will work on the establishment of the right regulatory framework regarding data governance, access and reuse. Development of the technological systems and the next generation of infrastructures will also be explored. 

The White Paper on AI shares information on the European Commission’s vision for making the EU a world leader in AI systems. Mobilising resources along the entire value chain and creating the right incentives to accelerate deployment of AI are mentioned as key aims that the European Commission wishes to pursue.  

Learn more about the European Strategy for Data HERE

Read the White Paper on Artificial Intelligence HERE

Access the consultation of the European Strategy for Data HERE

Access the consultation on the White Paper on Artificial Intelligence HERE

 

 

Updates from the EMA

In February the European Medicines Agency (EMA) issued information on restrictions for the use of cyproterone due to meningioma risk as well as on direct healthcare professional communications which will from now on regularly be published on the Agency’s website.

Restrictions in use of cyproterone due to meningioma risk

EMA’s safety committee (PRAC) has recommended that medicines with daily doses of 10 mg or more of cyproterone should only be used for androgen-dependent conditions such as hirsutism (excessive hair growth), alopecia (hair loss), acne and seborrhoea (excessively oily skin) once other treatment options, including treatment with lower doses, have failed. Once higher doses have started working, the dose should be gradually reduced to the lowest effective dose. The medicines should only be used for reduction of sex drive in sexual deviations in men when other treatment options are not suitable. There is no change in use of the medicines in men for prostate cancer.

Further information is available HERE

Direct healthcare professional communications to be regularly published on the EMA website

EMA announced that from February 2020 onwards direct healthcare professional communications agreed at EU level by the Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC), the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) and the Coordination Group for Mutual Recognition and Decentralised Procedures – Human (CMDh) will be made available on the Agency’s website. 

Direct healthcare professional communications are important communications that are sent directly to healthcare professionals by marketing authorisation holders or a competent authority  to inform them of new safety information about a medicine, such as:

• a suspension, withdrawal or revocation of a marketing authorisation for safety reasons;
• an important change in the product information, for example a restriction of indication, a new contraindication or a change in the recommended dose;
• a medicine supply shortage;
• a quality problem with a medicine.

A competent authority may disseminate or request the marketing authorisation holder to share a direct healthcare professional communication whenever this communication can benefit public health. These communications will be published on the EMA website at the time of national dissemination. The new webpage also includes links to national registers of direct healthcare professional communications.

Access direct healthcare professional communications HERE

 

EJHP: March issue available

The March issue of the European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy (EJHP) has been released. Its editorial discusses the coronavirus. Three out of the seven original articles explore the extended role for pharmacy assistants on inpatient wards in UK hospitals, look at the promotion of clinical pharmacy services through advanced medication review in emergency departments and evaluate the prevalence of pulmonary arterial hypertension in the Camerino area of central Italy and savings resulting from generic bosentan. For those interested in showcasing the return of investment for significant changes in the hospital pharmacy, the EJHP’s March issue also includes a practical calculation tool. 

Read the March issue HERE 

 

 

SAT – complete your hospital assessment!

Have you heard of EAHP’s self-assessment tool (SAT)? It has been developed to help you with the implementation of the European Statements of Hospital Pharmacy. By completing the SAT you can assess the level of implementation of the Statements within your hospital. Areas needing improvement are shown to you in a tailor-made action plan and evidence-based resources are provided to help you improve your implementation level. Check out the SAT which is available in multiple different European languages.

 

 

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Consultations 

Commission – Roadmap of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan

The European Commission is collecting views on its roadmap for Europe’s Beating Cancer plan. The feedback will be taken into account for further development and fine tuning of the initiative.

Deadline – 3^rd March 2020

Access consultation HERE

Commission – Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan

The public consultation for Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan is seeking to collect feedback on the pillars of the plan which include cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, follow-up care and research from individual citizens, patients, and carers replying in their personal capacity as well as health professionals and organisations. 

Deadline – 7^th May 2020 

Access consultation HERE