Hospital Pharmacy's North Star: How Basel Statements Guide Better Patient Care

Samir D’Costa in Health & Wellness November 2025 • 4 min read.

"Updated and relevant, the Basel Statements offer a roadmap for improving hospital pharmacy practices worldwide, ensuring better patient outcomes."

In 2008, the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) convened a landmark World Conference on the Future of Hospital Pharmacy in Basel, Switzerland. This pivotal meeting culminated in the creation of 75 consensus statements, known as the Basel Statements, which articulated a shared vision for hospital pharmacy practice. These statements quickly became a touchstone for professionals worldwide, guiding efforts to enhance pharmaceutical services and patient care.

Recognizing the need to stay current with evolving practices, leaders and practitioners of hospital pharmacy undertook a comprehensive review of the Basel Statements in 2014. This revision aimed to ensure the statements remained relevant and applicable to contemporary challenges. The review process involved a multi-phased approach, including a global online survey, an online forum for in-depth analysis, and a 'World Cafe' style workshop to foster collaborative discussion.

The meticulous revision process reaffirmed the enduring value of the Basel Statements while incorporating new insights and addressing emerging issues. The updated statements provide a robust framework for hospital pharmacies to optimize their operations, enhance patient safety, and contribute to improved healthcare outcomes. Let's delve into how these statements have evolved and why they remain essential for every hospital pharmacist.

The Basel Statements: A Roadmap for Modern Pharmacy Practice

Global hospital pharmacy collaboration guided by Basel Statements

The initial phase of the review, conducted in late 2013 and early 2014, involved a survey distributed to hospital pharmacy stakeholders worldwide. Participants were asked to evaluate each statement, indicating whether they agreed with the current wording, believed it should be eliminated, or suggested revisions. Those proposing revisions had the opportunity to offer specific wording changes, and respondents could also submit entirely new statements. The survey garnered 334 responses from 62 countries, reflecting a broad consensus on the need for updates.

The survey results indicated that over 10% of respondents felt 14 statements required revision or elimination. These statements underwent rigorous discussion among the Hospital Pharmacy Section leadership at an in-person meeting in late March 2014. Following initial revisions, the statements were subjected to further analysis through a global online forum. This phase involved participants from 28 countries, representing all six World Health Organization regions, who provided additional recommendations, which led to the emergence of key new concepts.

The role of technology assessment
The accountability of hospital pharmacies in ensuring the integrity of outsourced sterile products.
The training of specialized hospital pharmacists

During the final phase, 80 participants from 20 countries attended a 'World Cafe' style workshop at the FIP Congress in Bangkok in 2014. Participants deliberated on the statements and voted on their adoption, resulting in the final revised set of 65 Basel Statements. These statements are organized under the same six themes as the original declarations: supply, influencing prescribing, compounding and dispensing medicines, administering medicines, monitoring medication practices, and human resources and training. A set of core statements is also available.

Embracing the Basel Statements: A Call to Action

The FIP Hospital Pharmacy Section leadership believes that these statements offer a valuable roadmap for hospital pharmacy practice, with a truly global reach and reflection of ideal standards. We urge you to explore these statements, identify areas for improvement, and share your successes with the broader pharmacy community. By embracing the Basel Statements, we can collectively elevate hospital pharmacy practice and optimize the value pharmacists bring to patient well-being. Take the first step today – review the statements and implement changes that will enhance pharmaceutical care in your setting.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.4212/cjhp.v69i2.1534, Alternate LINK

Title: Les Déclarations De Bâle : Mises À Jour Et Pertinentes Pour Tous

Subject: Pharmacology (medical)

Journal: The Canadian Journal of Hospital Pharmacy

Publisher: Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists (CSHP)

Authors: Rebekah J. Moles, Lee Vermeulen, Jonathan Penm, Marianne Ivey

Published: 2016-04-28

Everything You Need To Know

What prompted the creation of the Basel Statements, and what was their initial impact on hospital pharmacy practice?

The Basel Statements originated from a 2008 World Conference organized by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) in Basel, Switzerland. During this conference, global experts developed 75 consensus statements defining a shared vision for hospital pharmacy practices. These statements quickly became a global standard to enhance pharmaceutical services and patient care. The statements have since been revised to ensure relevance.

Why was it necessary to revise the original Basel Statements, and what methods were used to ensure the revised statements remained relevant?

The Basel Statements were revised to stay aligned with the changes and challenges in hospital pharmacy practices. This involved a global survey, an online forum for in-depth analysis, and a 'World Cafe' style workshop to ensure the statements incorporated new insights. The meticulous review process, completed in 2014, resulted in a revised set of 65 Basel Statements that address contemporary issues and optimize hospital pharmacy operations.

How are the revised Basel Statements organized, and what key areas of hospital pharmacy practice do they address?

The revised Basel Statements are structured around six themes: supply, influencing prescribing, compounding and dispensing medicines, administering medicines, monitoring medication practices, and human resources and training. Furthermore, a set of core statements provide foundational guidance. These themes enable hospital pharmacies to systematically enhance their operations and improve patient care across various essential functions.

What critical topics emerged during the revision of the Basel Statements that reflect the evolving landscape of hospital pharmacy?

Key topics emerging from the review process of the Basel Statements included the role of technology assessment in hospital pharmacy, the accountability of hospital pharmacies in ensuring the integrity of outsourced sterile products, and the training of specialized hospital pharmacists. These topics address critical areas needing focus to enhance pharmaceutical services and ensure patient safety in modern hospital settings.

How can hospital pharmacies effectively implement the Basel Statements to improve patient care and contribute to the broader pharmacy community?

Hospital pharmacies can embrace the Basel Statements by first reviewing them to identify areas for improvement within their practice. They can then implement changes aligned with the guidelines to enhance pharmaceutical care. Sharing successes and challenges with the broader pharmacy community helps collectively elevate hospital pharmacy practices worldwide, ultimately optimizing the value pharmacists bring to patient well-being.