Globally Updated Hospital Pharmacy Standards

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

The standards, known as the “Basel Declarations”, provide best practice for hospital pharmacists and aim to improve pharmaceutical services and the overall quality of care.

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

· Supply

Influences on prescribing

Preparation and delivery of medicines

Medication administration

Medication monitoring

Human resources and training

The standards were first published by the Hospital Pharmacy Section of FIP in 2009, and the revisions now come against the backdrop of rapidly developing hospital pharmacy practice, especially with regard to technology. The statements aim to encourage the development of the practice around the world.

“There are several completely new statements, many of which deal with advancements in information technology and the importance for pharmacists to use electronic health records to improve the quality of drugs used by our patients,” said Lee Vermeulen, secretary of the hospital pharmacy section of the FIP. “… As with the initial statements, the overarching goal is to maximize the value that hospital pharmacists bring to the well-being of patients. “

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

Fred Eckel, RPh, MS, editor-in-chief of Pharmacy hours, said he believed that “the willingness of hospital pharmacy practitioners to set standards is one of the reasons hospital pharmacy has made such great strides.”

The 65 Basel declarations can be read here.