Ensuring the safe use
of medication is one of the key activities of clinical and hospital
pharmacists. However, many people don’t know that both professions carry out
many more activities to ensure optimal treatment outcomes for patients. The European Association
of Hospital Pharmacists (EAHP) and the European Society of Clinical Pharmacy (ESCP)
have collaboratively developed the “Oath to
Society” that acts as a contract for excellence in
providing compassionate patient care, working as part of the healthcare team
and advancing the pharmacy profession, and showcasing how clinical and
hospital pharmacists work every day. The Oath to Society is
the promise that the members of EAHP and ESCP make to patients and the public
they serve, the healthcare professionals they interact with and the health
systems they work in. The Oath functions as a compass for pharmacists to
adhere to the highest standards of ethics, integrity and professionalism, as
they provide service to the community over the course of their careers.
Touching on trust and respect, different aspects of the patient care pathway,
the multidisciplinary care team, disease prevention and health promotion,
education and the future development of pharmacy practice, the Oath to
Society is all-encompassing. Reflecting on their creation before the launch
event, ESCP President Derek Stewart highlighted that “The development of the Oath to
Society for European clinical and hospital pharmacists was inspired by
similar initiatives of pharmacists and our fellow healthcare professionals
around the globe. The Oath to Society emphasizes respect for patient privacy,
the key contributions that our profession makes and the need for clinical and
hospital pharmacists to uphold the highest standards of ethics for both
themselves and their colleagues.” The launch event
brought together key stakeholders that are engaging closely with clinical and
hospital pharmacists. Member of the European Parliament, István Ujhelyi,
highlighted in his keynote speech the challenges faced by healthcare systems
across Europe and the important role that pharmacists and their teams are
playing. The panellists Sibylle Reichert (AIM - International Association of
Mutual Benefit Societies), Juan José Fernández Romero (EPF - European
Patients' Forum), Ber Oomen (ESNO - European Specialist Nurses Organisation),
Pascal Garel (HOPE - European Hospital and Healthcare Federation) and Marc
Hermans (UEMS - European Union of Medical Specialists) shared their positive
experiences in working collaboratively with clinical and hospital pharmacists
and showed why the Oath to Society is important to their individual
organisations and patients. Equal and affordable access to medicines,
patient-centred care and cooperation were amongst the themes that the
panellists noted during their debate. In his intervention
during the launch event, EAHP President András Süle underlined that “It is important to communicate closely
with patients, their carers and our fellow healthcare professionals, such as
physicians, nurses and pharmacy technicians, to offer the best possible
treatment. As the healthcare system shifts towards efficiency while still
ensuring a high degree of safety and quality, pharmacists – as valued members
of the interprofessional healthcare team – can and should play an integral
role, focusing on medication management, medication reconciliation,
preventive care and patient education.” Stephane Steurbaut,
Board member and Secretary of ESCP, echoed in his contribution very similar
words while at the same time stressing that “Clinical and hospital pharmacists must not only ensure
that prescriptions are appropriate, safe, and effective, but to also provide
patients with guidance, reassurance, and compassion. With the Oath to
Society, we hope to inspire both future and current pharmacists that all
care, respect, and work toward change and preparation for the future of our
profession.” |
