The European Association of Pharmacy Technicians (EAPT) is a non-profit organisation dedicated to enhancing the role, education, and recognition of pharmacy technicians across Europe. Established in 2010 following a pivotal meeting of the Committee of European Pharmacy Technicians (CEPT) in Lisbon, the EAPT was founded by eleven national pharmacy technician associations. The inaugural board was elected in April 2011 during the first official meeting held in Cardiff, Wales.

EAPT's mission is to support pharmacy technicians in delivering safe, effective, and efficient pharmaceutical services for the benefit of patients in all member countries. The association aims to lead, represent, and support the pharmacy technician profession in achieving excellence in the safe and secure delivery of pharmacy practice. By conducting research, EAPT aspires to be a source of expertise and influence on all aspects of European pharmacy technician education and practice.

The governance of EAPT is structured around its Statutes and Internal Rules, which outline the composition of the association and its governing bodies. These documents are reviewed and agreed upon by members during the Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Membership in EAPT is open to national pharmacy technician organizations across Europe. As of 2024, the association comprises members from the following countries: Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Montenegro, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Sweden .

In 2024, EAPT welcomed Slovakia and Montenegro as new members, reflecting its ongoing efforts to expand and strengthen the network of pharmacy technicians throughout Europe.

The current EAPT Board, elected in Oslo in 2024, includes:

President: Cristiano Matos (Portugal)
Vice President: Anita Sveum Nilsen (Norway)
Secretary: Laura Lyons (Ireland)
Treasurer: Svjetlana Jakovac (Croatia)
Media Officer: Jutta Brielich (Germany)
Board Members: Juliana Keta (Sweden) and Veronika Luňáková (Czech Republic) .

EAPT continues to play a vital role in promoting the pharmacy technician profession, advocating for standardised education and practice, and fostering collaboration among member countries to enhance patient care across Europe.

Cristiano Matos

Dr Cristiano Matos is a pharmacy technician, researcher, and educator with a strong academic background and over a decade of professional experience. He holds a Bachelor's in Pharmacy (2011) and a Master's in Applied Pharmacotherapy (2014) from Coimbra Health School, a PhD in Pharmacy from the University of Seville (2020), a Postgraduate Diploma in Herbal Medicines from the University of Coimbra (2020), and a Master's in Medical Statistics from the University of Aveiro (2022). He has lectured at Coimbra Health School since 2018, focusing on Pharmacoepidemiology, Pharmacovigilance, Toxicology, Pharmacotherapy and Phytotherapy. Dr Matos currently serves as President of both EAPT and the Portuguese Association of Pharmacy Technicians. Cristiano is actively involved in two Erasmus+ KA2 projects:

PharmTech Mobility: Enhancing European Pharmacy Technician Exchange and Mobility.
Introducing Pharmacy Technicians as Immunizers through E-Learning.

João José Joaquim

Dr João José Joaquim is a pharmacy technician and has served as a full-time professor and researcher at the Coimbra Health School (Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Coimbra) since 2001. He holds a Bachelor’s (Hons) degree in Pharmacy (2000) from Coimbra Health School, a Master’s degree in Toxicology (2007) from the University of Aveiro, and a PhD in Pharmacy and Health (2023) from the University of Salamanca. Additionally, he completed postgraduate studies in Pharmacoepidemiology (2001) at the University of Lisbon and in Genetic Toxicology and Toxicogenomics (2006) at the New University of Lisbon.

Dr Joaquim is certified as a Clinical Investigator (Levels 1 and 2) by Nova Medical School and UNAVE – University of Aveiro (2022), and holds the Global Pharmacovigilance Professional Certificate (2025), awarded by the Institute of Pharmacovigilance on behalf of the International Society of Pharmacovigilance (ISoP).

His academic and research interests focus on drug toxicology, pharmacovigilance, and pharmacoepidemiology. He has extensive experience in curriculum development, academic leadership, and student supervision.

Dr Joaquim served as President of the Coimbra Health School from 2017 to 2021. He is also a former President of the Portuguese Association of Pharmacy Technicians (2001–2023) and EAPT (2011–2017), where he promoted professional development and cross-border collaboration in pharmacy education and practice.

Dr Joaquim is currently engaged in two Erasmus+ KA2 projects:

PharmTech Mobility: Enhancing European Pharmacy Technician Exchange and Mobility
Introducing Pharmacy Technicians as Immunizers through E-Learning

In addition, he is an active researcher in the RePo-SUDOE project, funded by the INTERREG SUDOE Programme, focusing on drug repurposing in Southern Europe.

Ângelo Jesus

Dr Ângelo Jesus is a pharmacy technician with professional experience in Community and Hospital Pharmacy. Holds a Bachelor Degree (2007) from the School of Health of Porto Polytechnic. Dr Jesus started to collaborate in the teaching of future Pharmacy Technicians in 2009 and this eventually led him to his PhD in Educational Sciences- Educational Technology - (Emphasys in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning). He has since been Course Director and has been involved in the accreditation process, and also in the new curricular plan of the BSc Pharm. He holds several postgraduate certification from Portuguese and Spanish universities both in Radiopharmacy and Pharmaceutical Care. Currently, he is a collaborating researcher at LAQV/REQUIMTE Research Centre and has authored several publications in Portuguese and English regarding Pharmacy Practice and Pharmacy Education. He is Member of the Pedagogical Council since 2016 and former member and trainer at the e-Learning and Pedagogical Innovation Unit from Porto Polytechnic Institute.

Carolina Valeiro

Carolina Valeiro is a Pharmacy Technician with experience in Community Pharmacy and Medical Sales. She graduated from the Coimbra Health School in 2020 and holds a Master’s degree in Pharmacovigilance and Pharmacoepidemiology (2024) from the European Programme in Pharmacovigilance and Pharmacoepidemiology (Eu2P). Currently, Carolina is pursuing a PhD in Pharmacy at the University of Seville, focusing on areas related to Pharmacy Practice and Public Health.

She is actively involved in international research and education through her role as a Research Assistant at EAPT. Her work includes participation in two Erasmus+ KA2 projects: PharmTech Mobility, which promotes the exchange and mobility of Pharmacy Technicians across Europe, and Introducing Pharmacy Technicians as Immunizers through E-Learning, aimed at expanding the professional role of technicians in public health.