As healthcare systems face mounting pressure, community pharmacists’ role is more vital than ever. But many European countries are facing difficulties in recruiting and retaining community pharmacists, exacerbated by burnout, early retirements, and a lack of interest among students. PGEU calls for comprehensive measures to address the growing shortage of pharmacists in Europe, urging policymakers, healthcare providers and educational instit...

Annex: National experiences from PGEU members Belgium: How to make the pharmacist’s profession more attractive   The National Pharmacists Association (APB) developed 3 working groups aiming at discussing the matter of pharmacy workforce shortages. The working group on “Offer” worked and liaised with the universities, with the objective on working on the conditions for pharmacy studies. The working group on “Demand”, explored the topi...

Doctors, nurses, community and hospital pharmacists, hospitals and healthcare services, consumers, older people, health insurance funds and not-for-profit health mutuals, call on legislators to maintain paper package leaflets, and use electronic leaflets as a complementary tool. Ahead of the future co-legislators’ interinstitutional negotiations on the European Commission’s Proposal for a revised pharmaceutical legislation in the European Uni...

For over a decade PGEU has been publishing an annual medicine shortage report and over the years we saw the number of shortages growing progressively worse in all countries.   Despite continued pharmacists’ efforts to find solutions, we witness a significant negative impact on patients’ health and a concerning erosion of patients’ trust in the healthcare system. The unavailability of a medicine causes inconvenience and distress to the pat...

The Standing Committee of European Doctors (CPME) and the Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union (PGEU) are today exchanging views on solutions for shortages of medicines, medical devices and healthcare professionals in a joint event with policy-makers, academics and professionals. Pharmacists and doctors are concerned about the rise of medicine shortages across Europe, affecting the quality of care of patients. PGEU President Aris Prins said...

Today, at its General Assembly meeting, the Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union (PGEU) has elected Clare Fitzell from the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) as PGEU President for 2025 and Claude Hostert-Pfeiffer from the Union of Luxembourg Pharmacists (SPL) as PGEU Vice-President. They will start their mandate from 1st January 2025.  In her acceptance speech Clare Fitzell stressed: ”I am truly honoured to have been elected to serve as PG...

Chronic medicine shortages affect patients’ health and pharmacy practice

From antibiotics to cardiovascular to respiratory, most types of medicines continue to be in short supply. PGEU annual medicine shortages report indicates that in 2023 the situation grew worse compared to previous years. In the Netherlands alone 2.292 shortages were registered last year affecting about 5 million people. Other countries like Sweden, Portugal and Spain saw a significant increase in the number of shortages. PGEU President Aris Prins...

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The PGEU General Assembly adopted today a new Position Paper on the role of community pharmacists in vaccination. Community pharmacists contribute to vaccination strategies in various ways, being ideally positioned at the heart of communities to provide information, advice and treatments to reduce the burden of vaccine-preventable diseases. Pharmacists also engage in public awareness campaigns on vaccination, address vaccine hesitancy and contrib...

Annex PGEU members examples of the contribution of community pharmacists to vaccination strategies   Belgium: Community pharmacists as vital support for COVID-19 vaccination campaigns   During the COVID-19 pandemic, pharmacists played a crucial role that was even enhanced from the moment vaccines became available. A law was passed to allow the administration of COVID-19 vaccines by trained pharmacists, amongst a preventive strategy encompa...

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European community pharmacists welcome the Communication on medicines shortages adopted today by the European Commission.  PGEU has long been calling for bold and ambitious measures to address the problem of medicines shortages. We hope that the initiatives outlined in the Communication will help to avoid another period of severe medicine shortages like the one we experienced with antibiotics last winter which could compromise not only public he...

Today, at its General Assembly meeting, the Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union (PGEU) has elected Aris Prins, from the Royal Dutch Pharmacists Association (KNMP) as PGEU President for 2024 and Dimitar Marinov from the Bulgarian Pharmaceutical Union (BPhU) as PGEU Vice-President. Both will start their mandate from 1st January 2024. In his acceptance speech Aris Prins stressed: “I am truly honoured to have been elected to serve as PG...

AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines, making infections harder to treat, increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death. The emerging increase of microbes that are resistant to antimicrobial treatments has become a global public health concern that threatens the effective treatment of infectious diseases: In 2019: estimated 4.95 million deaths (1.27 million d...

Community pharmacists: standing by European patients

Medicine shortages are on the rise in Europe. The results of our annual shortages survey indicate that the situation in 2022 has worsened and that all countries and all classes of medicines continue to be affected. Moreover, over the last weeks, the surge in respiratory infections has led to an increasing demand for antibiotics such as amoxicillin – especially for paediatric use – and the supply disruptions currently reported in some countrie...

This year, PGEU is supporting the Belgian Red Cross.

PGEU, the European organization representing community pharmacists, published today a position paper on the European Commission proposal for a European Health Data Space (EHDS) asking for stronger safeguards to maintain the bond of trust between health care professionals and patients. The EHDS will support community pharmacists in providing better services and treatments to patients while promoting the safe use of medicines, but it is important t...

PGEU welcomes the proposal for a European Health Data Space (hereinafter, “EHDS” or the “Proposal”) and supports the general objective of the EHDS of facilitating the access of health data across the Union for primary and secondary uses, whilst ensuring citizens have control over their own health data.  PGEU also agrees it is vital to strengthen health systems and the healthcare workforce, including by digital transformation, appropriate...

Today, at its General Assembly meeting, the Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union has elected Mr. Koen Straetmans, from the Belgian Pharmaceutical Association (APB) as PGEU President for 2023 and Dr. Risto Kanerva from the Association of Finnish Pharmacies as PGEU Vice-President for 2023.  In his acceptance speech Mr. Straetmans stressed: ”I’m very proud to have been  elected to serve as PGEU President. The upcoming revision...

European community pharmacists stand together to condemn Russia’s unprecedented military aggression against Ukraine and to share their strong solidarity with their Ukrainian colleagues and the Ukrainian people during these dark times. Since the beginning of the conflict community pharmacists and pharmacy organisations across Europe have been raising funds and have supported ongoing humanitarian actions, including through donations of medica...

Community Pharmacists Exemplar Role as Primary Care Providers in the COVID-19 Pandemic

PGEU Medicine Shortages Survey 2021 Results Each year PGEU conducts a survey among its membership to map the impact of medicine shortages across Europe from the community pharmacists’ perspective. The 2021 PGEU Medicine Shortages Survey Results cover the responses from 27 European countries. Among the key findings of the survey are: The continued high incidence of medicine shortages in most European countries, although most countries reported ...

European community pharmacists welcome a revision of the EU general pharmaceutical legislation as a tool to help ensuring Europe’s supply of safe and affordable medicines to meet patients’ needs and to support the financial sustainability and the resilience of health systems. Both the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the unacceptable, increasingly negative impact medicine shortages have on patients access to medicines require bold, ambitious, an...

Today, at its General Assembly meeting, the Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union has elected Mr. Roberto Tobia, from the Italian pharmacy owners federation ( Federfarma) as PGEU President for 2022 and Mr. Raimund Podroschko from the Austrian chamber of pharmacists as PGEU Vice-President for 2022. In his acceptance speech Mr. Tobia stressed: “I am really delighted to have the opportunity to represent european community pharmacists ne...

A new European project has been launched, with the purpose to improve equitable vaccine uptake by strengthening collaboration between healthcare professionals, public health authorities, the media and local communities. IMMUNION will contribute to and complement wider EU vaccination efforts through delivering better education to health professionals and better information to the general public. Communicating evidence-based information about vacc...

ISBE Executive Summary for download Pharmacy interventions on COVID-19 in Europe: Mapping current practices and a scoping review

The role of Community pharmacists in the fight against COVID-19

THE EUROPEAN COALITION FOR VACCINATION  CALLS ON HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS TO GET VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19  Today, the Coalition for Vaccination has published a manifesto to encourage healthcare professionals to get vaccinated against COVID-19.  The manifesto highlights three key reasons why all healthcare professionals should get vaccinated against COVID-19 when they have the opportunity to do so and why they should help promote t...

PGEU welcomes the ambitions set forward in Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan adopted yesterday by the European Commission. European community pharmacists offer their support for the implementation of the Plan’s objectives in primary care and are committed to take up an enhanced role in providing quality, convenient and affordable access to professional healthcare services within their domains of expertise. PGEU President Alain Delgutte stated: “...

Main findings of the survey: All responding countries experienced medicine shortages in community pharmacies in the past 12 months, and in the majority (65%) of countries, respondents indicated that the situation got worse compared to 2019. All classes of medicines are affected by medicine shortages in community pharmacies across Europe. Cardiovascular medications have been short in supply in community pharmacies in the highest percentage of cou...

Today PGEU organises a roundtable[1] to present the numerous and diverse pharmacy services provided in Europe including a wide array of pharmacy interventions on COVID-19. The event brings together Members of the European Parliament, senior officials from the European Commission, representatives of patients and other health care professional organisations, the OECD, national health authorities and PGEU members to discuss the role of community pha...

European community pharmacists welcome the ambitions set forward in the Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe adopted today by the European Commission. We believe the proposed measures will help ensure patients’ access to safe and affordable medicines and the financial sustainability of health systems.  PGEU President Duarte Santos stated: “Today’s ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the unacceptable, increasingly negative impact medicine sh...

The emerging and steady increase of microbes that are resistant to antimicrobials has become a global public health concern that threatens the effective treatment of infectious diseases. PGEU President Duarte Santos stated: “Despite the ongoing COVID-19 crisis we cannot afford to lower our guard in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR). If this crisis has taught us one thing, it is that having access to adequate prevention, screening...

Today, at its General Assembly meeting, the Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union has elected Mr. Alain Delgutte, member of the National Council of the French Chamber of Pharmacists, as PGEU President for 2021 and Mr. Mathias Arnold, Member of Federal Union of German Pharmacists Associations (ABDA) as PGEU Vice-President for 2021. In his acceptance speech Mr. Delgutte stressed: “2021 will be a difficult year; but in crises and adversity, ...

The approaching seasonal influenza and the resurgence of Covid-19 cases across Europe are going to place an enormous burden on already strained health care services. Implementing flu vaccination programmes in times of Covid-19 will be particularly challenging and it is urgent to put in place effective vaccination campaigns that can help preventing hospitalisations, ensuring adequate access and uptake of flu vaccines especially for at risk groups....

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis community pharmacists have been working with tireless commitment and determination to guarantee patients continued access to treatments. They have been accessible 24/7 also during the lockdown and have arranged home delivery services for the most vulnerable people. Throughout the crisis, they have been the first line of advice, treatment and referral for many European citizens on common ailments, success...

The Coalition for Vaccination brings together European associations of healthcare professionals and relevant student associations in the field. It was convened by the European Commission in 2019. The Coalition aims to support delivering accurate information to the public, combating myths around vaccines and vaccination, and exchanging best practices on vaccination. The Coalition has nearly 20 member organisations, including healthcar...

European community pharmacists are in the frontline in the fight against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and they are doing everything in their power to support their patients, including in areas currently in lockdown. PGEU members have offered national governments their wide local pharmacies network to assist the health authorities in the dissemination of information to citizens on how to prevent the spread of the virus. They have launc...

The professional and student organisations representing medical doctors, dentists, pharmacists and veterinarians in Europe call on policy makers, academics and professionals to promote an interdisciplinary exchange under the One Health approach in education. The European organisations are committed to organising regular roundtables in different European regions to debate the need to update current curricula and promote interdisciplinary collabora...

Each year PGEU conducts a survey among its membership to map the impact of medicine shortages across Europe from the community pharmacists’ perspective. The 2019 PGEU Medicine Shortages Survey Results cover the responses from 24 European countries. Main findings of the survey: All responding countries experienced medicine shortages in community pharmacies in the past 12 months, and the vast majority (87%) of respondents indicated that the situ...

Following the publication of the European Commission Communication on a European Union Strategic Approach to Pharmaceuticals in the Environment in March 2019, community pharmacists reinforce their commitment to reduce and prevent the impact of pharmaceuticals in the environment. PGEU President Michal Byliniak said: “Community pharmacists across Europe share the increasing concerns on the negative effects pharmaceuticals can cause on the envi...

Further information are available on WHO website.

Today PGEU celebrates its 60th anniversary with a special event in the European Parliament. This occasion is an opportunity to acknowledge the community pharmacists’ vital contribution to the health of people over the last decades and discuss how to shape the pharmacy of the future to better meet patients’ needs. The event brings together several Members of the European Parliament, senior officials from the European Commission and OECD, re...

Today the Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union has elected Mr Duarte Santos, Member of the Board of the Portuguese Pharmacy Association (ANF), as PGEU President for 2020, at its General Assembly meeting in Kraków, Poland. In his acceptance speech Mr. Santos stressed: “I’m truly honoured to have been appointed as PGEU President 2020. Pharmacy practice is rapidly evolving and shifting the focus from dispensing medicines to advanced patie...

Executive summary The unavailability of medicines is on the rise in Europe and it has a tremendous impact on patients. Medicine shortages occur across all healthcare settings and involve both essential life-saving medicines and very commonly used drugs. Community pharmacists are very concerned about this phenomenon, which can compromise patients’ health. Moreover, pharmacies and pharmacists invest a lot of resources dealing with shortages which...

Community pharmacists are ready to enhance their contribution and to help Europe’s health systems.

European community pharmacists consider new, innovative and automated technologies a useful tool to support and complement their expert professional advice to patients and to deliver more efficient, sustainable and high-quality pharmacy services. Community pharmacists have the infrastructure and expertise to deploy Big Data and AI in practice: they already use digital services on a daily basis (e.g. dispensing ePrescription, checking for medicati...

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The new term of the European Parliament offers an unprecedented opportunity for Members of the European Parliament to determine the course of EU action on health issues. Indeed, 2019 is a crucial year for the EU institutions to decide on whether maintaining health policy in the EU agenda. PGEU calls for the continuation of a comprehensive and coherent EU approach to health and for health dossiers, including medicines and medical devices, to remai...

Today the Council of the European Union adopted a Recommendation on strengthened cooperation against vaccine preventable diseases. The Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union (PGEU) welcomes the Council Recommendation as a basis to improving vaccine coverage and tackling vaccine hesitancy in the EU. PGEU supports the call to facilitate access to vaccination services by simplifying and broadening the opportunities to offer vaccination, leveragi...

Today the Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union has elected Mr Michał Byliniak from the Polish Pharmaceutical Chamber, NIA, as PGEU President for 2019, at its General Assembly meeting in Marbella, Spain. Pharmacist by profession, Mr Michał Byliniak graduated from the pharmaceutical faculty of the Warsaw Medical University, Poland. Currently, he is the vice-president of the Polish Pharmaceutical Chamber and has over 15 years of professional...