1. Acta Clin Belg. 2018 Apr 30:1-7. doi: 10.1080/17843286.2018.1462877. [Epub ahead 
of print]

Development of clinical pharmacy in Belgian hospitals through pilot projects
funded by the government.

Somers A(1)(2), Spinewine A(1)(3), Spriet I(1)(4)(5), Steurbaut S(1)(6), Tulkens 
P(1)(7), Hecq JD(1)(8), Willems L(1)(9), Robays H(1)(10), Dhoore M(1)(11), Yaras 
H(1)(12), Vanden Bremt I(1)(12), Haelterman M(1)(13).

Author information: 
(1)a Federal Public Service Health , Food Chain Safety and Environment, Federal
Network Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee - Advisory Working Group on Clinical
Pharmacy , Belgium.
(2)b Clinical Pharmacy at Ghent University Hospital , Gent , Belgium.
(3)c Head of Clinical Pharmacy Service , Université catholique de Louvain,
Louvain Drug Research Institute , Brussels, Yvoir , Belgium.
(4)d Clinical Pharmacy Services , Leuven University Hospital , Leuven , Belgium.
(5)e Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Clinical
Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy , University of Leuven , Leuven , Belgium.
(6)f Research Group Clinical Pharmacology & Clinical Pharmacy (KFAR), Faculty of 
Medicine and Pharmacy , Vrije Universiteit Brussel , Brussels , Belgium.
(7)g Drug Development, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences , Université
catholique de Louvain , Bruxelles , Belgium.
(8)h Head of Department Pharmacy of the CHU-UCL , Namur , Belgium.
(9)i Former Director of Pharmacy, University Hospital Leuven , Leuven , Belgium.
(10)j Former Director of Pharmacy , University Hospital Gent , Gent , Belgium.
(11)k Federal Public Service Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment ,
Lovendegem , Belgium.
(12)l Federal Public Service Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment , Brussels
, Belgium.
(13)m Head of Service Quality of Health and Patient Safety , Federal Public
Service Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment , Brussels , Belgium.

Objectives The goal is to develop clinical pharmacy in the Belgian hospitals to
improve drug efficacy and to reduce drug-related problems. Methods From 2007 to
2014, financial support was provided by the Belgian federal government for the
development of clinical pharmacy in Belgian hospitals. This project was guided by
a national Advisory Working Group. Each funded hospital was obliged to describe
yearly its clinical pharmacy activities. Results In 2007, 20 pharmacists were
funded in 28 pilot hospitals; this number was doubled in 2009 to 40 pharmacists
over 54 institutions, representing more than half of all acute Belgian hospitals.
Most projects (72%) considered patient-related activities, whereas some projects 
(28%) had a hospital-wide approach. The projects targeted patients at admission
(30%), during hospital stay (52%) or at discharge (18%). During hospital stay,
actions were mainly focused on geriatric patients (20%), surgical patients (15%),
and oncology patients (9%). Experiences, methods, and tools were shared during
meetings and workshops. Structure, process, and outcome indicators were reported 
and strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats were described. The yearly 
reports revealed that the hospital board was engaged in the project in 87% of the
cases, and developed a vision on clinical pharmacy in 75% of the hospitals. In
2014, the pilot phase was replaced by structural financing for clinical pharmacy 
in all acute Belgian hospitals. Conclusion The pilot projects in clinical
pharmacy funded by the federal government provided a unique opportunity to launch
clinical pharmacy activities on a broad scale in Belgium. The results of the
pilot projects showed clear implementation through case reports, time
registrations, and indicators. Tools for clinical pharmacy activities were
developed to overcome identified barriers. The engagement of hospital boards and 
the results of clinical pharmacy activities persuaded the government to start
structural financing of clinical pharmacy.

DOI: 10.1080/17843286.2018.1462877 
PMID: 29708056