Representing 31 countries from Europe, members of the European Association of Hospital Pharmacists as well as pharmacists from around the world will meet for the 15th Anniversary Congress of the EAHP to take place in Nice, France from the 24th- 26th March 2010.
EAHP’s annual congress draws participants from over 50 countries and although the main purpose of the congress is to provide educational seminars focusing on trends and changes in the world of hospital pharmacy, the Nice congress will have special significance as it not only celebrates its 15th Congress Anniversary but Dr. Roberto Frontini, President of EAHP, will formally unveil the new logo, web site and educational activities of the organisation.
As EAHP has grown and evolved over the years to a now very professional organisation with its headquarters located in Brussels, the board of directors decided the time had come to change the logo and identity of the organization to be in line with its forward movement as a world recognised association for hospital pharmacists. The new logo was approved during the annual general assembly which took place in June 2009 in Dubrovnik, Croatia.
The new EAHP identity reflects the growth and changing role of the organisation for the hospital pharmacist associations of Europe as well as its place in the European community.
EAHP has been helping hospital pharmacists from Europe improve health care through science, practice, sharing best-practice and collaborative actions. The organisation has been in existence for 37 years and was first discussed during a scientific congress in Strasbourg. A number of hospital pharmacists from different European countries decided that they should establish a European association to represent their common interests. Thus in 1969, the seeds of EAHP were sown. On 6 March 1972, the representatives of six European countries signed the first Statutes of the European Association of Hospital Pharmacists, in The Hague, The Netherlands.
Due to the growth and successfulness of the organisation, EAHP opened its first headquarters in Brussels, Belgium in 2006 and realized its largest congress in 2009 with 2689 participants in attendance to the Barcelona event.
EAHP thanks the excellent work by the past president, Jacqueline Surugue, which will surely provide for the on-going growth of this organisation and we strive to become more important for European hospital pharmacy by continuing this forward movement in order to provide the necessary tools, education and EU representation of hospital pharmacists in Europe, stated EAHP President, Roberto Frontini. We trust that the decision made to update our identity will not only make a statement as to our success but also increase EAHP’s visibility and value to hospital pharmacists not only in Europe but around the world.
On 3 September 2009 EAHP was unanimously accepted as a member of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) by the federation’s council.
EAHP has already been represented at FIP congress seminars and via projects such as the 2008 FIP statements on the future of hospital pharmacy, which was co-piloted by Jacqueline Surugue, then President of EAHP.
By joining the FIP, EAHP gains visibility and exposure but more importantly, becomes part of the largest network of pharmacists at a global level and consult FIP on all matters pertinent to medicines. This will give EAHP advocacy power and greater influence on global hospital pharmacy policy making.
To obtain more information about EAHP, please visit its web site at www.eahp.eu
