European drug information centers

Drug information is a clinical specialty throughout the United States and Europe. This professional support service not only addresses drug information requests, but also provides pharmacy (drug) and therapeutics support, newsletter publication, fee-for-service consultation, education, drug policy development, and research. Although the primary services of drug information centers (DICs) in Europe are similar to those in the United States, substantial differences have been reported. Recent surveys have compared the locations, resources, staff, and services of the DICs throughout Europe. DICs in the United States and Europe play a pivotal role in the provision of pharmaceutical care to patients as well as providing support to hospital functions.