EAHP Statement on the first version of the Union list of Critical Medicine

Brussels, December 18 The European Association of Hospital Pharmacists welcomes the first version of the Union List of Critical Medicines. However, since the list is based on the European Commission Structured Dialogue and after consulting only a limited number of EU countries, the identified criteria of criticality can be interpreted very differently and may produce divergent results depending on the country that applies them.
 
EAHP believes that all relevant stakeholders should be involved and should discuss how this list may be improved and what is the best way to carry out the criticality assessment.
 
EAHP supports a common criticality assessment model involving representatives of healthcare professionals, patients and national competent authorities. 
 
EAHP disagrees with the definition of three criticality risk levels, which makes the identification of critical medicines more complex. Therefore, keeping only the distinction between “critical” and “non-critical” medicines should be pursued, avoiding the medium risk category.
 
                                                               ENDS
 
1. For further information contact info[at]eahp[dot]eu | 0032 2 669 2513 
 
2. The European Association of Hospital Pharmacists (EAHP) is a not-for-profit organisation that defends the interests of more than 25.000 European hospital pharmacists from its 36 full and associate member organisations. EAHP works to develop knowledge on hospital pharmacy to ease the improvement of care and outcomes for patients in the hospital setting. The Association achieves this through science, practice, research, education, as well as sharing best-practice and responsibility with other healthcare professionals. More information about EAHP is available HERE.
18 December 2023