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, according to the European Association of Hospital Pharmacists (EAHP) and the European Society of Clinical Pharmacy (ESCP).
The two bodies have collaboratively developed the ‘Oath to Society’, which acts as a contract for excellence in providing compassionate patient care, working as part of the healthcare team, 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, they said. 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, said the EAHP and ESCP. Touching on trust and respect, different aspects of the patient care pathway, the multidisciplinary care team, disease prevention and the future development of pharmacy practice, the Oath to Society is all-encompassing, they said.
Reflecting on their creation before the launch event, ESCP President Mr Derek Stewart commented: “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 emphasises 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.”
Commenting during the launch event, EAHP President Mr András Süle stated: “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.
