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EAHP publishes health priorities for 2019 EU elections
  1. Stephanie Kohl
  1. Policy & Advocacy, European Association of Hospital Pharmacists, Brussels, Belgium
  1. Correspondence to Ms Stephanie Kohl,Policy & Advocacy, European Association of Hospital Pharmacists, Brussels, Belgium; Stephanie.Kohl{at}eahp.eu

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EAHP released its health priorities for the 2019 European Parliament elections. The document addresses future Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) who are going to stand for election in late May. It aims at achieving better patient outcomes with the help of hospital pharmacists.

Hospital pharmacists are the healthcare professionals responsible for ensuring timely and equal access of patients to safe medication and high-quality pharmaceutical care in the hospital sector. As key stakeholders in medication management, they are equipped with unique skills that are crucial in complex hospital settings, thus bringing value to healthcare teams and ensuring the best patient treatment.

The 2019 health priorities of the EAHP are focusing on three key areas, namely

  • Addressing medicines shortages;

  • Tackling antimicrobial resistance; and,

  • Investing into the future of healthcare.

EAHP calls for more international co-operation supported by a comprehensive communication system to address the growing problem of medicines shortages in European hospitals. Antimicrobial resistance, like medicines shortages, can only be lowered through multi-stakeholder engagement. Consequently, MEPs should advocate for a stronger uptake of antimicrobial stewardship teams on national level. Accessibility and affordability are key concerns of patients. Keeping healthcare high on the EU’s agenda will not only ensure that these concerns are addressed but also allow for the increase of coordination and communication in healthcare at EU level which is crucial.

EAHP opinion on vaccination

EAHP fully supports the Recommendation of the Council of the European Union on strengthened cooperation against vaccine-preventable diseases which was adopted in December 2018. As outlined in the Council Recommendation, healthcare workers play a crucial role in working towards the goal of improved vaccination coverage. Patients, visitors and healthcare workers who are not vaccinated can spread infections such as measles or the influenza to very ill patients in our hospitals. Vaccinations reduce, for us all, the need to be admitted …

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Footnotes

  • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

  • Competing interests None declared.

  • Patient consent for publication Not required.

  • Provenance and peer review Commissioned; internally peer reviewed.