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 Congress – less than 1 week left to submit your abstract

The deadline for the submission of abstracts to the 25^th Congress of the European Association of Hospital Pharmacists (EAHP) is fast approaching. By 15^th October 2019 hospital pharmacists, other healthcare professionals and interested scientists can submit their work for the consideration by EAHP’s Scientific Committee. 

The 25^th Congress of EAHP will be held in Gothenburg, Sweden from 25^th to 27^th March 2020. Different seminars, workshops and keynotes will be organised around the theme: “Hospital Pharmacy 5.0 – the future of patient care”. Abstract authors are kindly reminded to carefully read and comply with the guidelines presented on EAHP's website which outline the review process, provide guidance to those submitting abstracts for the first time and list tips on avoiding abstract rejection. Submissions of abstracts from all disciplines of hospital pharmacy or related areas are encouraged, provided that they can be linked to one of the 44 European Statements of Hospital Pharmacy.

Abstracts must be written in accordance with a pre-defined structure (background, purpose, materials and methods, results, conclusions) and they should not exceed the limit of 350 words. The online submission system will guide abstract authors through the process. Questions concerning the abstract submission process can be addressed to abstract[at]eahp[dot]eu

The best abstracts/posters, with regards to aspects like originality, scientific quality and practical applicability, will be awarded with 3 prizes amounting to 750 euro, 500 euro and 250 euro.

More information HERE

 

EHFG – hospital pharmacists call for more proactive measures

 

Between 2^nd and 4^th October, the European Health Forum Gastein (EHFG) discussed topics relevant to the European public health community around the theme: “A healthy dose of disruption”. EAHP President Petr Horák attended this conference and shared the views of hospital pharmacists during the session “Shortages of essential medicines” which discussed if patients can expect the adoption of effective measures ensure the availability of their medicines.

Together with Brigitte Zarfl (Minister of Labour, Social Affairs, Health and Consumer Protection of Austria), Kristin Raudsepp (Director General, State Agency of Medicines of Estonia & Co-Chair of the EMA-HMA Task Force on Availability of Authorized Medicines) and Richard Bergström (VP Life Sciences at Guardtime), Petr Horák discussed the problems caused by medicines shortages and proposed possible solutions that could help alleviate the problem. The scene for the discussion was set by Vytenis Andriukaitis, the European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, who stressed the importance of transparency and the need for early notification to healthcare professionals and patients.  

After listening to the country perspectives which highlighted measures taken and called for a stronger cooperation of regulators, EAHP’s President shed some light on the daily problems faced by hospital pharmacists. He underlined the need for data, in particular on the causes of medicines and stressed that only detailed information can help to identify the best suitable solutions for each Member State. Given the worsening of the situation, which was also reported on in EAHP’s 2018 Medicines Shortages Survey, Petr Horák called for the adoption of more proactive and less reactive measures. These include for example prudent tendering procedures which seek to minimise medicines shortages.

More information about the EHFG is available HERE

 

FIP congress discusses new strategy for global pharmacy

At the end of September, EAHP attended the 79^th World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences organised by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP). The event brought together member representatives from all over the globe to discuss the new horizons for the pharmacy. 

One of the main items on the agenda was the presentation of FIP’s global strategy for pharmacy which aims at providing access to medicines for everyone. In addition, pharmacists strengthened their commitment in the fight against non-communicable diseases (NCDs) through the adoption of a new Statement which touches upon the contribution of the pharmacy profession to the prevention of NCDs, and the optimal detection and care of patients living with NCDs. Another statement of policy which was shared during the FIP Congress focuses on empowering informal carers. It urges pharmacists to further the support they give to women to provide caregiving at home.

Rob Moss, EAHP’s Director of Professional Development, receive a FIP Fellowship. This award recognises individual members of FIP who have exhibited strong leadership internationally, distinguished themselves in the practice of pharmacy and contributed to its advancement. 

Learn more about FIP HERE

 

 

Updates from the EMA - Four-week limit for use of high-strength estradiol creams

EMA’s Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) has recommended limiting the use of high-strength creams containing 100 micrograms/gram (0.01%) of estradiol to a single treatment period of up to 4 weeks. This measure is intended to minimise the risk of side effects caused by estradiol absorbed into the bloodstream from creams applied inside the vagina to treat symptoms of vaginal atrophy in women who have been through menopause.

The PRAC has reviewed available data on the safety and effectiveness of high-strength estradiol-containing creams, including data on the amount of estradiol in the blood. These data showed that in postmenopausal women who had used these creams, the levels of estradiol in the blood were higher than normal postmenopausal levels. The PRAC concluded that absorption of estradiol into the bloodstream is of concern and could result in similar side effects to those seen with hormone replacement therapy (HRT). The side effects of HRT taken orally or used transdermally (as patches) include venous thromboembolism (formation of blood clots in the veins), stroke, endometrial cancer (cancer of the lining of the womb) and breast cancer.

The prescribing information for these creams will be updated with the new recommendations. A warning that the medicine is to be used for a single treatment period of up to 4 weeks only will be placed on the outer and inner packaging and the size of the tube will be limited to 25 grams to prevent use for longer than recommended.

The PRAC recommendations will now be sent to the CMDh to make a decision about their implementation. 

For more information, please click here.

 

EJHP: Epidemiological aspects and prevalence study of nosocomial infections in a general hospital of specialties

The online first edition of the European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy (EJHP) published a retrospective analysis on the epidemiological aspects and prevalence study of nosocomial infections in a general hospital of specialties covering the years 2012 to 2017. It was concluded that the multidisciplinary nature of the nosocomial infections allows to improve their approach, reducing the harmful effects on health.

 

Read the article HERE

 

 

 

 

Have you met EAHP’s Statement Implementation Ambassadors? 

To promote the implementation of the European Statements of Hospital Pharmacy at national level EAHP has teamed up with motivated and enthusiastic hospital pharmacists willing to help their countries and others move towards Statement Implementation, the so call “Implementation Ambassadors”. It is their role to 

• Act as primary link in between EAHP, their national associations and the implementation activities done within their countries.
• Convey to EAHP the needs and priorities of their countries regarding Statement implementation.
• Build resources that will help hospital pharmacists, healthcare professionals and other relevant stakeholders to implement the Statements within their hospitals.

In case you are curious about the Implementation Ambassador working in your country you can find out more about him/her via the Statement website.