Austria–UK Collaboration
Clinical Pharmacy and Antimicrobial Stewardship
The Centre has developed a strategic partnership with Austrian pharmacists through researcher Sonja Guntschnig, supported through collaboration with MSD’s Investigator Studies Program (MISP) and the Medicines Optimisation Innovation Centre (MOIC) based in Antrim, Northern Ireland. This partnership is focused on the design, implementation, and evaluation of clinical pharmacy services in hospital settings across Austria, with a particular emphasis on antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) and medicines optimisation.
Austria UK Collaboration
Key achievements
Key achievements of the Austria–UK collaboration include the successful establishment of clinical pharmacy interventions at an Austrian hospital, led by Ms Sonja Guntschnig in partnership with Ulster University and the Medicines Optimisation Innovation Centre (MOIC). These interventions have resulted in measurable improvements in prescribing practices, enhanced multidisciplinary collaboration, and greater focus on antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) education.
The impact of this work has been captured in a peer-reviewed publication in the European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy (Guntschnig et al., 2023), which highlights the need for formal clinical pharmacy services in Austrian hospital settings. This partnership has also strengthened ties with MOIC, whose expertise in translational service development has been instrumental in adapting UK-based clinical pharmacy frameworks to meet the needs of the Austrian healthcare system.
Wider Impact
This project exemplifies CIHIP’s ability to act as a catalyst for international service innovation. It demonstrates how shared expertise, academic–clinical collaboration, and research-led implementation can drive forward pharmacy service development in diverse healthcare systems. Through this partnership, the groundwork is now laid for sustainable AMS practices and a scalable clinical pharmacy model that can be replicated across other European hospital settings.
