Hospital Pharmacy Standards Updated Globally

The International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) has updated the practice standards used by hospital pharmacists worldwide.

The standards, known as “Basel Statements,” provide best practices for hospital pharmacists and are intended to improve pharmacy services and enhance overall quality of care.

There are 65 Basel Statements in total that cover the following 6 main areas of hospital pharmacy:

· Procurement

· Influences on prescribing

· Preparation and delivery of medications

· Medication administration

· Monitoring medication

· Human resources and training

The standards were first published by the FIP’s Hospital Pharmacy Section in 2009, and the revisions now come amid a rapid development of hospital pharmacy practice, especially concerning technology. The statements are intended to encourage practice development around the world.

“There are several totally new statements, many of them dealing with advances in information technology and the importance of pharmacists using electronic health records to improve the quality of medicines used by our patients,” stated FIP Hospital Pharmacy Section Secretary Lee Vermeulen. “…As with the original statements, the overarching goal is to maximize the value that hospital pharmacists bring to the well-being of patients.”

HPS believes that Basel Statements should be used as a roadmap to guide national, regional, and local hospitals in self-assessment to identify areas of potential improvement.

Fred Eckel, RPh, MS, Editor-in-Chief of Pharmacy Times, has said he believes “the willingness of hospital pharmacy practitioners to set standards for themselves is a reason hospital pharmacy has made such great strides.”

All 65 Basel Statements can be read here.