Since 2006 SIR has been working on research concerning quality indicators. For the Healthcare Inspectorate (IGZ) and KNMP/WINAp SIR developed the first national set of quality indicators for pharmacies. Aim of the indicators is to give signals for possible problems in practice and to be able to compare data of all community pharmacies in the Netherlands. A report of the development of the indicators, using a Delphi study methodology was made. This resulted in a set of indicators that was tested in 21 randomly selected community pharmacies in the Netherlands. In 2009 pharmacies first provided data on the 42 resulting quality indicators pharmacies 2008. All community pharmacies were asked to provide data by the 1st of april. About 1800 pharmacies (95%) of community pharmacies complied with this request. For 2009 a revised set of quality indicators will be published by IGZ/KNMP. SIR continues to play an adhoc advisory role in the use and interpretation of indicators, resulting among others activities in a course on indicators in collaboration with PAO Farmacie in 2009. A new course will be given in 2010.

To incorporate multiple viewpoints from different stakeholders in pharmaceutical care SIR was involved in 2008 in the drawing up of a principle document for the quality of pharmaceutical care for the Dutch Ministry of Health (kwaliteitskader Farmaceutische Zorg, www.zichtbarezorg.nl). Consensus was achieved among all stakeholders involved in pharmaceutical care on what this care is and which preconditions are required to deliver it safely and effectively. It is important to mention that the principle document not only addresses the role of the pharmacist but also all other stakeholders involved in pharmaceutical care, for example it would also include hospital nurses. This document together with the quality indicators pharmacies will be the starting point for the development of a new indicator set incorporating the viewpoint of the different stakeholders (estimated to be in use by 2011).

In 2008/2009 SIR was also involved in a European project on the concepts of pharmaceutical care in different European countries. This involved a preparatory study on the possibilities for developing European indicators for pharmaceutical care. A preliminary report was made for the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines and Health Care.