{"id":10549,"date":"2025-04-15T11:49:33","date_gmt":"2025-04-15T10:49:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ehma.org\/?p=10549"},"modified":"2025-04-15T12:18:28","modified_gmt":"2025-04-15T11:18:28","slug":"strengthening-hospital-safety-the-urgent-need-for-digital-transformation-in-controlled-substances-management","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ehma.org\/strengthening-hospital-safety-the-urgent-need-for-digital-transformation-in-controlled-substances-management\/","title":{"rendered":"Strengthening hospital safety: the urgent need for digital transformation in controlled substances management"},"content":{"rendered":"

As part of EPACT project EHMA has just released the report, ‘<\/span>Leveraging Digitalisation and Automation for Controlled Substances Management in European Hospitals’<\/i><\/strong>. This paper significantly supports the project\u2019s key deliverables by contributing to the work programme of the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines at the Council of Europe and the European policy agenda. The report aims to demonstrate how the digitalisation of hospitals\u2019 medication management pathways can reduce the risk of drug diversion, enhance governance, and improve patient safety<\/strong><\/span>. <\/strong>By mapping best practices and highlighting the added value of digital tools, this paper shows the need for investment in technologies that support an overburdened workforce, prevent medication harm, and ensure more resilient health systems.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The management of controlled substances in hospitals is not just a legal necessity, it’s a matter of patient safety, public trust, and healthcare system resilience. Despite this, EHMA reveals that many European hospitals are still managing these high-risk medications using outdated, manual systems vulnerable to errors and misuse.<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Controlled substances, such as opioids and anaesthetics, play a vital role in treatment. However, their potential for diversion and abuse demands urgent and defined management. Unfortunately, across the EU, practices remain inconsistent and fragmented. EHMA\u2019s survey, conducted in collaboration with National Competent Authorities (NCAs), found that over 40% of hospital pharmacists identify registration, dispensing, and administration as major pain points and are all still heavily reliant on manual workflows.<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Even more concerning, only six out of the 16 countries surveyed explicitly reference digitalisation in their national regulations.<\/strong> While countries like Poland and Spain have implemented advanced digital monitoring systems, others still use paper logs and semi-digital systems, leaving dangerous gaps in traceability and accountability.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Digitalisation offers a clear path forward. Tools such as electronic prescribing, automated dispensing cabinets, barcode verification, and integrated monitoring software can reduce human error, improve traceability, and ensure real-time compliance with regulations. When deployed effectively, these technologies streamline workflows, enhance security, and empower healthcare professionals<\/strong> to focus more on care and less on paperwork.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The report outlines four key recommendations:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Accelerate digitalisation<\/strong> of controlled substance management across all EU hospitals.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Harmonise regulations<\/strong> at the EU level to ensure consistency in digital record-keeping and oversight.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Provide targeted funding<\/strong> to support the digital shift, especially in resource-constrained facilities.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Promote best practices<\/strong> by sharing successful national and regional models.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The message from stakeholders is clear: 88% of NCAs surveyed support a transition to digital reporting systems, with 75% calling for formal regulation. The readiness is there yet what\u2019s needed now is leadership, investment, and coordinated EU-wide action.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    As healthcare systems across Europe push toward digital transformation, the management of controlled substances must not be left behind. With the right infrastructure, policies, and training, hospitals can build safer, smarter, and more accountable medication management systems, protecting both patients and professionals.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    As part of EPACT project EHMA has just released the report, Leveraging Digitalisation and Automation for Controlled Substances Management in European Hospitals. This paper significantly supports the project\u2019s key deliverables by contributing to the work programme of the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines at the Council of Europe and the European policy agenda.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":10562,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[131,133,134],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10549","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-patient-safety","category-medication-management","category-digitalisation"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nStrengthening hospital safety: the urgent need for digital transformation in controlled substances management - EHMA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ehma.org\/strengthening-hospital-safety-the-urgent-need-for-digital-transformation-in-controlled-substances-management\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Strengthening hospital safety: the urgent need for digital transformation in controlled substances management - EHMA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"As part of EPACT project EHMA has just released the report, Leveraging Digitalisation and Automation for Controlled Substances Management in European Hospitals. 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