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ESCP wants your best practice! Deadline for abstract submissions 30 April 2026.

We want your best practice!

The European Society of Clinical Pharmacy (ESCP) and the International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy (IJCP) are continuing the ‘Best Clinical Pharmacy Practice papers’ initiative. We are calling for clinical pharmacy practices and education that describe innovative and sustainable clinical pharmacy practices worth sharing, to be published in the IJCP.

Submissions are welcome from anyone! You don’t need to be an ESCP member or based in Europe!

What is best practice?

Best practices in clinical pharmacy relate to developments in practice and education, which are supported by thorough development and implementation processes along with high quality, robust and rigorous research evidence of evaluation outcomes. These outcomes may include aspects such as acceptability, adoption, (cost-)effectiveness, efficiency, satisfaction, sustainability, etc. Any areas of clinical pharmacy practice and education development in any setting will be considered.

Have a look at some Best Practice publications.

Hazen A, Sloeserwij V, Pouls B, et al. Clinical pharmacists in Dutch general practice: an integrated care model to provide optimal pharmaceutical care. Int J Clin Pharm. 2021;43:1155-1162.

Cheng C, Walsh A, Jones S, et al. Development, implementation and evaluation of a seven-day clinical pharmacy service in a tertiary referral teaching hospital during surge-2 of the COVID-19 pandemic. Int J Clin Pharm. 2023;45:293–303.

Howlett MM, Sutton S, McGrath EL, et al. Implementation of a national system for best practice delivery of paediatric infusions. Int J Clin Pharm. 2024;46:4–13.

The full collection is available on the IJCP website.

What do we ask?

To be considered for publication, the IJCP and ESCP will first select six leading best practice proposals submitted by 30 April 2026. The proposal should be formatted as a 350-word abstract (excluding author details) with the following headings:

• Title (give as ‘ESCP Best Practice: [title])
• Author detail (names affiliations, email of corresponding author)
• Introduction
• Aim (of the practice)
• Setting
• Development (how the practice was developed)
• Implementation (how the practice was implemented)
• Evaluation (how the practice was evaluated; evaluation findings)
• Conclusion

The top six selected proposals will be given the opportunity to be converted into full manuscripts of 3,000 words maximum. Further information on the format of the full manuscript is available by clicking HERE.

How can you submit?

Submission of manuscripts is made through the ESCP International Office at international.office@escpweb.org

Anyone can submit. You don’t need to be an ESCP member or based in Europe!

Publication format

All IJCP papers are now published as fully open access which requires payment of an article professing charge (APC). Fees will be waived for ESCP Best Practice Papers for authors from countries or institutions which do not have OA agreements in place.

Do not forget to submit by 30 April 2026!

The ESCP 2025 Annual Symposium took place in Grenoble, France, from November 26 to 28, 2025, under the theme “From Interprofessional Education to Interprofessional Practice.” The event brought together over 377 participants from 44 countries across Europe and beyond, fostering the exchange of knowledge, research, and professional networking. The symposium offered a rich programme of plenary lectures, workshops, oral communications, poster presentations, sponsored lectures, and expert discussions reflecting current challenges in healthcare — from active patient involvement and the implementation of innovations into practice, to the use of digital and AI tools in clinical pharmacy.

The day before the symposium, a Masterclass of Excellence was held. This was organised by the Research Committee and led by Prof. Martin Henman, Prof. Betul Okuyan, Prof. Pierrick Bedouch, and Assoc. Prof. Daniela Fialová. The masterclass focused on the responsible use of generative AI in clinical pharmacy research. The evening before the symposium featured an opening lecture by Prof. Stéphan Chabardes, Head of the Department of Neurosurgery. He delivered an impressive talk entitled “From Deep Brain Stimulation to Photobiomodulation: Advancing Technologies to Improve Patient Care.” The evening concluded with a welcome reception held at the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy.

The symposium was officially opened by Dr. Monika Lutters (President of ESCP), prof. Pierrick Bedouch (Symposium President and Scientific Committee Chair). The participants were also welcomed by the newly elected President of the French Society of Clinical Pharmacy (SFPC), Prof. Lise Bernard.

Plenary lectures: collaboration, the patient, and innovation

The opening of the symposium focused on the question of what collaboration in healthcare truly means and the role of the patient as a partner within it. The plenary lectures highlighted that interprofessional collaboration is not just an organisational concept, but a culture built on trust, shared responsibility, and collaborative decision-making. Prof. Sophie Lauzier and Dr. Luigi Flora explored patients’ perspectives on collaboration between healthcare professions and demonstrated that involving patients in education, research, and clinical practice leads to more sustainable and meaningful solutions. Round table discussion within the plenary sessions also addressed the issue of limited healthcare personnel resources, showing that team-based care can help mitigate these constraints. The perspectives shared by our panellists were particularly insightful, as they represented viewpoints from clinical pharmacists (Prof. Benoit Allenet, Prof. Marie Schneider, Prof. Sophie Lauzier), physicians (Prof. Michel Burnier), patients (Dr. Luigi Flora), and students (Elisa Vitale and Nina Wissing).

The 2nd day sessions shifted attention to established models of interprofessional care across various settings — from primary care and healthcare centres to long-term care (Prof. Lilian Azzopardi, Dr. Anne Spinewine, MSc. Linda Refors Öfverstedt, Dr. Sophie Logerot). Strong emphasis was placed on medication safety, continuity of care, and clearly defined roles within the healthcare team. Two of the lectures focused on the practice of non-medical prescribing by pharmacists (Assoc. Prof. Matej Štuhec) and nurses (Prof. Tinne Dilles).

The 3rd day plenary blocks offered a forward-looking perspective, highlighting digital solutions, artificial intelligence, simulation models (Prof. Kreshnik Hoti, Dr. Loora Salurand, Dr. Alexandra Dima, and Dr. Christian Skalafouris), and innovative educational tools with the potential to significantly influence both clinical practice and pharmacy education (Prof. Pascal Bonnabry, Assoc. Prof. Abdikarim Abdi, and Prof. Shusen Sun).

The Steve Hudson Lecture was delivered by Prof. Robert Horne, professor of behavioural medicine at the University College London. In his impressive talk on “Applying Behavioural Science to Support Adherence and Improve Patient Care”, he highlighted one of the key aspects of pharmacotherapy — non-adherence. Based on available data, approximately 1/3 of medicines prescribed for chronic conditions are not taken as recommended, which has a substantial impact on treatment outcomes, patient safety, and the efficiency of healthcare systems. Prof. Horne offered an overview of his lifelong research in the field of behavioural medicine, building on his earlier experience as a clinical pharmacist in practice. He emphasised that non-adherence cannot be explained simply as patient “disobedience”, but requires a complex understanding of patient behaviour, beliefs, and motivations.

The lecture sponsored by Saladax featured the exceptional speaker, Dr. Ivana Tašková. She discussed therapeutic drug monitoring of antipsychotics, their clinical use, and the implementation of point-of-care testing.

Workshops: interactivity, practical focus, and shared experience

A major component of the symposium was its extensive workshop programme, delivered in parallel sessions over all three days. The workshops were characterised by a strong emphasis on interactivity, active participant engagement, and work with real-life practice examples. Participants worked in small groups, shared their own experiences, addressed model scenarios, and jointly developed solutions transferable to diverse clinical and educational settings. This format was repeatedly highlighted as one of the key strengths of the symposium. Workshop topics included patient and public involvement in research and education; rational and safe use of medicines, including opioids; implementation science as a driver of change in clinical pharmacy; assessment of interprofessional education; polypharmacy and geriatric pharmacotherapy; point-of-care testing in everyday practice; the use of artificial intelligence in education and clinical decision-making; geriatric care simulation; or how to design an innovative training. The sponsored workshop by DoseMe was led by the outstanding speaker, Dr. Sharmeen Roy. Participants had the opportunity to explore forecasting precision using population models for optimised antimicrobial dosing in a virtual hospital.

An integral part of the programme was the poster session, which naturally connected formal scientific presentations with informal professional discussions during breaks. Posters covered a wide range of topics — from research projects and innovative educational approaches to the implementation of clinical pharmacy services across different healthcare systems. The poster session provided space for intensive exchange of ideas, expert feedback, and the initiation of new collaborations, particularly between early-career researchers and experienced professionals. The parallel sessions also included oral communications, allowing presenters to showcase specific projects, research findings, and examples of good practice in a concise and dynamic format. They provided a space for sharing practical and research experience.

The Closing ceremony led by the newly appointed ESCP President, Dr. Anna Oleárová, included the presentation of awards for the best posters and oral communications. The Best Poster Award and the Best Oral Communication Award were presented to: Eman Alhmoud for the poster presentation on Pharmacy-Supported Transitional Care Interventions in the Emergency Department: a Scoping Review; and to Lisa-Marie Smale for the oral communication on Deprescribing and Formulation Switching Strategies to Improve Environmental Sustainability of Hospital Care: a Delphi Study.

During the symposium, there were also meetings of our working Committees (Education, Research and Communication) and Special Interest Groups (SIGs on mental health, deprescribing and YESCP). Two of these were kick-off meetings (SIGs on antimicrobial stewardship and pharmacogenomics).

The event’s ambience was enhanced by the walking dinner at the Fort de La Bastille. The Grenoble World Trade Center venue provided a delightful setting, complemented by high-quality catering. Attendees also had the opportunity to participate in the YESCP Dinner and/or a Fun Run supporting children with cancer, all under the stunning and majestic mountains of the Alps.

A sincere thank you to all plenary speakers, workshop moderators, the Scientific and Organising Committees of the symposium, the ESCP International Office, our sponsors: Saladax, DoseMe, BD, AstraZeneca, and supporters: French Society of Clinical Pharmacy (SFPC), and National Association of Clinical Pharmacy Teachers (ANEPC), as well as all participants for sharing their knowledge, skills, and work through posters, oral communications, and networking.

When the fog lifts

The first days of the conference were marked by rainy and foggy weather, which kept the peaks of the surrounding Alps hidden from view. Only when the fog lifted and the sun emerged did the mountains reveal their majesty and beauty. What a symbolic metaphor. The work of clinical pharmacists is often ‘invisible’, taking place behind the scenes of everyday healthcare. However, when examined closely — by analysing its impact and linking it to clinical outcomes — the essential role of clinical pharmacists in ensuring medication safety, supporting healthcare colleagues and improving patient outcomes becomes evident.

The roles of the clinical pharmacists will be further explored at the Spring Workshop 2026, which will take us to the other side of the Alps in Innsbruck and focus on medication safety. We look forward to welcoming you again at one of our future events and/or webinars.

In recognition of World Mental Health Day, our SIG on Mental Health has prepared a support flyer aimed at raising awareness of the important role clinical pharmacists can play in caring for individuals with mental health conditions

In clinical practice, pharmacists are uniquely positioned to make a significant impact on mental health care through:

• Optimisation of pharmacotherapy
• Monitoring for adverse effects and drug interactions
• Supporting treatment adherence
• Providing empathetic, patient-centred communication
• Collaborating within multidisciplinary teams
• Taking care of our own mental well-being to sustain compassionate and effective care

By working together, we can strengthen the role of clinical pharmacy in advancing mental health care.
Mental health matters for everyone – including ourselves.

Click here for more information.

Join the Masterclass of Excellence on Responsible use of AI in clinical pharmacy research organised by ESCP Research Committee and moderated by excellent prof. Martin C. Henman, prof. Pierrick Bedouch, prof. Daniela Fialová & prof. Betul Okuyan.

This Masterclass will focus on Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools. Many AI tools are available to carry out research activities including literature review and creating the hypothesis, computation/statistics, data presentation, writing, presenting and publishing. The Masterclass will involve examples of the use of AI in qualitative and quantitative research methods. In clinical pharmacy practice, the number of AI tools relevant to patient care and service delivery are also increasing. However, research ethics and research integrity should be considered before using these tools in clinical pharmacy and in research.

Click here for more information.

EdCom Survey Results Are In!
EdCom recently conducted a survey to explore the educational needs of ESCP members, identify future priorities, and understand barriers to participation in our events.

See what we’ve learned from the survey – and how it helps shape our future plans.

Click here to view the results

The 2025 ESCP Spring Workshop was held in a unique and inspiring coastal setting, where pharmacists, educators, and researchers gathered to explore the evolving scope of pharmacist prescribing. With the waves as a backdrop and innovation at the heart, the event brought together expert speakers and engaged participants in a dynamic programme of plenaries, workshops, and social activities. Workshop took place in Egmond aan Zee, the Netherlands on 7th – 8th April 2025 on “The Prescribing Pharmacist: a Prescription for better patient care.”

Day 1:

The workshop opened with an inspiring keynote by Thomas Kempen (the Netherlands), offering “A global overview of pharmacist prescribing initiatives and models.” This session provided a solid foundation for understanding the diversity of prescribing frameworks across countries. In the hours to follow, attendees could participate in the workshops hosted by the plenary speakers for a further deep dive (pun intended!) into the topic. This led to lively interactions discussing the competencies of prescribing pharmacists, promoting cross-border dialogue and idea exchange. Kayleigh Davison (England) closed the scientific programme with a compelling plenary on “Working as an Expert Pharmacist Prescriber: Better Researcher, Educator, Leader and Clinician,” shedding light on the multifaceted nature of modern pharmacist roles.

The evening programme was as vibrant as the day. A group dinner at the beach offered a chance to unwind and connect, featuring a light-hearted but competitive pub quiz timed perfectly with the sunset. Laughter and learning went hand-in-hand as teams tested their knowledge on Dutch pharmacy history and drug riddles.

Day 2:

For the early risers, the final morning offered an optional nature-based wellness programme. Participants could choose between a refreshing sea dive, a peaceful dune walk, or an energising 5 km fun run.

Day two delved deeper into practical aspects of prescribing. Freyja Jónsdóttir (Iceland) shared her personal and professional reflections and those of Anita Weidmann (Austria) in “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step: driving pharmacist prescribing.” Her plenary was a motivational call for change-makers to follow her steps using the I-UtTER framework. Stephen Doherty (England) brought the plenaries to a powerful close with his plenary on “Pharmacist Prescribing Education: admitting prescribing practice & educational design into pharmacy curricula.” Attendees had the opportunity to follow one of the workshops to satisfy their prescribing appetite..

The 2025 Spring Workshop successfully blended evidence, experience, and enthusiasm. It strengthened the collective ambition to expand pharmacist prescribing, while fostering a sense of shared purpose and possibility. We look forward to the next edition with new insights and continued collaboration!

A big thank you to all the plenary speakers; workshop moderators; Scientific and Organising Committee of the Spring Workshop; to our sponsors: Saladax, DoseMe, Stratipharm and Digitalis; and all participants for sharing their knowledge and skills, for sharing their own work by presenting a poster/ oral communication, for networking and for being in Egmond aan Zee!
Hope to see you again at one of our future events.

The European Society of Clinical Pharmacy was a partner of the Erasmus BIP programme on
Artificial intelligence (AI) in Healthcare. Clinical Pharmacy and Optimization of Pharmacotherapy: New Advances in Research and Clinical Practice,
organised by the University Centre of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Czech Republic.
The event took place from 28 April to 2 May 2025 in Prague and Hradec Králové.

The Training School was organised by the Consortium of the I-CARE4OLD Horizon 2020 project (Principal Investigator: Prof. Hein van Hout and team); the ESCP Research Committee (ResCom, Chair: Prof. Martin Henman and collaborators); the ESCP Special Interest Group (SIG) on Deprescribing (Chair: Prof. Stephen Byrne and collaborators); and WP4 of the NETPHARM project (Chair: Assoc. Prof. Daniela Fialová and collaborators).

The Training School was designed for students from ten European universities.

The programme included a Day with the ESCP on 30 April featuring Monika Lutters (ESCP President), Martin Henman (ResCom Chair), and Stephen Byrne (Deprescribing SIG Chair), on behalf of the ESCP.

Reports and photos from this event are available here and here.

On 25 February, YESCP will organize an online career event about the different career paths in Clinical Pharmacy.

The program will be as follows:

• Clinical Pharmacy in Hospital to Corporate Job Switch, by Mina Kovačevič, Ms. Clinical Pharmacy
• Clinical Pharmacy in Ambulatory Care, by Bergdís Elsa Hjaltadóttir, Ms. Clinical Pharmacy
• Clinical Pharmacy in Academia, by Dr. Éva Takács

This webinar is free for all who are interested, but mainly focused on young clinical pharmacists, member or non-member of ESCP.

To book your ticket for this event, follow this link.

Prof. Derek Stewart

Prof. Derek Stewart was nominated for the ESCP Fellow due to his outstanding contributions to clinical pharmacy research, practice, and education. He is a globally recognized leader with a remarkable track record, having secured over £3 million in research funding and published more than 280 peer-reviewed papers. His leadership as Chief Editor of the International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy has enhanced the journal’s impact and diversity.

Derek’s research has had a direct, positive influence on clinical pharmacy, including the expansion of pharmacist prescribing in the UK and improving patient safety in the Middle East. He has also mentored over 30 PhD students, strengthening research capacity within the field. His long-standing service to the ESCP, including his presidency from 2020-2023, exemplifies his dedication to advancing the Society’s mission. His efforts led to expanded membership, increased collaboration with other societies, and successful annual events, all while fostering an inclusive and innovative environment.

Derek’s leadership, research excellence, and unwavering commitment to the ESCP make him a highly deserving ESCP Fellow. Professor Stewart was presented with the award during the opening ceremony of the ESCP Symposium in Krakow.

The ESCP 2024 Annual Symposium took place in Krakow, Poland, from October 21st to 23rd, 2024, with the theme “Implementing and Scaling Sustainable Clinical Pharmacy Practice.” The event gathered over 350 participants from Europe and beyond, fostering the exchange of knowledge, research, and professional networking. The scientific program featured plenary sessions, workshops, oral communications, poster presentations, and sponsored lectures.

The day before the symposium, a General Committee meeting was held, along with a Masterclass of Excellence organized by the Research Committee and led by Prof. Martin Henman and Prof. Betul Okuyan. The masterclass focused on initiating implementation science in clinical pharmacy. The evening before the symposium featured the opening lecture by Prof. Piotr Skarżyński, who presented the fascinating topic “Methods of Treatment in Partial Deafness: From Pharmacology to Implants.” The evening concluded with a Welcome Reception held in the historic Jagiellonian University building.

The symposium was officially opened by Dr. Monika Lutters (President of ESCP), Dr. Kamila Urbanczyk (Symposium President), and Prof. Michael Scott (Scientific Committee Chair). During the opening, Prof. Martina Hahn presented an award to Prof. Derek Stewart as a new ESCP Fellow.

The symposium centered on the transformation process, emphasizing the latter stages – implementing, scaling, spreading, and achieving the sustainability of innovations in clinical practice – all supported by new models of education and lifelong learning.

Prof. Cathy Harrison described the implementation of innovative clinical pharmacy services across Northern Ireland’s health system from a policy perspective. Prof. Judith Strawbridge discussed the benefits of involving patients in research and how their insights and life experiences lead to more relevant research with improved outcomes. Dr. Alpana Mair shared the outcomes of the EU-funded SIMPATHY project, which identified recommendations for managing polypharmacy in Europe, building on Scotland’s program to address inappropriate prescribing and prevent medication-related harm.

Dr. Francesca Wirth reflected on how practice research outcomes could support the evolution of effective and sustainable pharmacy services, focusing on cardiovascular disease management. She also discussed strategies to overcome barriers and enhance facilitators, along with practical considerations. Dr. Charlotte Bekker introduced a Dutch project exploring the potential to “reuse” unused medications from patients’ homes. Dr. Markus Lampert and Prof. Samuel Allemann shared Swiss experiences on developing and implementing a pharmacist-led pharmacogenetic service in various settings. Prof. Michael Scott and Anita Hogg introduced the Medicines Optimisation Innovation Centre (MOIC), a Northern Ireland-based center of expertise that has demonstrated considerable success and sustainability since 2015.

Other plenary sessions, led by internationally renowned speakers, addressed topics such as the aging population (Prof. Daniela Fialová), cardiovascular and respiratory diseases (Prof. Piotr Ponikowski and Prof. Joanna Chorostowska-Wynimko), mental health (Prof. Anita Weidmann), and antimicrobial resistance (Dr. Marina Odalović).

The Steve Hudson Lecture was delivered by Prof. Bart van den Bemt, who spoke on implementing sustainable clinical pharmacy practices with the principles of reduce, reuse, and recycle.

Two lectures sponsored by Saladax featured exceptional speakers. Dr. Georgios Schoretsanitis discussed the fundamentals and role of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) in clinical decision-making, while Prof. Martina Hahn and Prof. Sibylle Roll emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in interpreting TDM results to optimize drug safety in antipsychotic therapy.

During the 15 workshops, participants focused on diverse topics, including medication optimization in frailty, medicines reviews, clinical pharmacy services for polypharmacy patients, patient engagement, clinical pharmacy practice and research methodology, clinical supervision for students and trainees, antimicrobial stewardship, sick-day guidance in clinical practice, and health literacy for pharmacists and educators. All workshops were facilitated by experienced moderators, resulting in active discussions.

During the breaks, participants had the opportunity to view the poster session, discuss with the authors and network.

The symposium highlighted that achieving impactful results in clinical pharmacy for patient benefit requires a holistic approach, involving collaboration among all stakeholders – spanning education, clinical pharmacy care delivery, interdisciplinary collaboration, legislative support, continuous evaluation, and long-term sustainability.

The event’s ambiance was highlighted by the gala dinner held under the Kościuszko Mound. The DoubleTree Hilton venue provided a delightful setting, complemented by high-quality catering. Attendees also had the chance to participate in a Fun Run or tour Krakow’s Old Town, all against the backdrop of beautiful autumn weather.

A sincere thank you to all plenary speakers, workshop moderators, the Scientific and Organizing Committees of the symposium, the ESCP International Office, the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, the City of Kraków, our sponsors (Saladax, DoseMe, and Datlowe), and all participants for sharing their knowledge, skills, and work through posters, oral communications, and networking.

We look forward to seeing you again at one of our future events!