Interprofessional session will explore cancer care for pharmacists and their colleagues
The Irish Institute of Pharmacy (IIOP) is delighted to collaborate with the HSE’s National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) as part of RCSI Charter Week 2026, the theme of which is ‘Cancer’. IIOP will host an interprofessional session entitled ‘Beyond the Prescription — The Pharmacist’s Role in Cancer Care’. The session will take place on Thursday, 12 February, in-person, in RCSI, from 14:15-16:15.
What is RCSI Charter Week?
The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) Charter Meeting is an annual event, celebrating the granting of a Royal Charter and founding of the College in 1784. It is a multidisciplinary event, welcoming each of the facilities and speciality groups in RCSI.
The Charter Meeting will take place, in person, from Tuesday, 10 February to Saturday, 14 February 2026 in RCSI, exploring the theme of Cancer.
IIOP/NCCP Parallel Session
The IIOP/NCCP parallel session is a two-hour session which will explore how pharmacists, alongside their multidisciplinary colleagues, play a crucial and expanding role across the full continuum of cancer care: From prevention and early detection, through to survivorship.
Cancer remains one of the greatest healthcare challenges of our time, affecting thousands of individuals and families across Ireland each year. With improvements in early detection and advances in treatment, survival rates continue to rise. As a result, it
has become increasingly important to focus on patient-centered, integrated and standardised cancer services. Pharmacists, as medicine experts and accessible healthcare professionals, are ideally positioned to deliver this type of cancer care, ensuring that every patient receives safe, effective, and co- ordinated care.
The IIOP/NCCP pharmacy parallel session will bring together pharmacists, general practitioners, and other multidisciplinary colleagues to highlight how cancer care is evolving, and how pharmacy practice is adapting to meet patient needs.
The session will open with a focus on prevention and early detection, exploring how pharmacists can play a vital role in public health and awareness initiatives. Topics will include cancer prevention through healthy lifestyle promotion, awareness of national screening campaigns, and recognition of early warning signs or ‘red flags’ that warrant referral. As trusted members of their communities, pharmacists can act as first-line advocates for cancer awareness and early detection, helping to reduce delays in diagnosis and improve patient outcomes.
Another focus of the session will be the role of pharmacists in comprehensive cancer care
Building on this foundation, the discussion will turn to integrated cancer care and the importance of collaboration across healthcare settings. As treatment pathways become increasingly complex, continuity of care is essential. The presenter will examine how hospital and community pharmacists can work together to support patients receiving systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT), ensuring seamless transitions of care and consistent patient education.
This segment will also showcase educational initiatives, including the NCCP Competency Framework for Pharmacists Providing Cancer Care, the IIOP Cancer Care Hub, and the Cancer Care Champion Pharmacist Programme. These initiatives are designed to support pharmacists in building confidence and competence when caring for patients with cancer, whether in hospital or community settings.
Another focus of the session will be the role of pharmacists in comprehensive cancer care, showcasing examples of advanced practice within oncology and haemato-oncology services. Discussions will also include how pharmacists contribute to multidisciplinary decision- making and support safe prescribing and administration of cancer medicines.
The theme of quality and standardisation will also feature, with contributors from the NCCP discussing how standardised regimens and guidelines and the utilisation of the National Cancer Information System (NCIS) enhance safety and consistency across cancer services in Ireland.
The final part of the session will address survivorship and living well after cancer, recognising that more people are living longer following a cancer diagnosis than ever before. Survivorship care can present unique challenges related to polypharmacy, symptom management, and the prevention of late treatment effects. Pharmacists, through their expertise in medicines and strong rapport with patients, are ideally placed to support survivors as they transition from active treatment to long-term care.
Across all these themes, the unifying message is clear: Pharmacists are essential members of the cancer care team, contributing not only to the safe and effective use of medicines, but
also to cancer prevention, education, and holistic patient support. This interprofessional session will provide valuable insight into current practice, highlight innovative models of care, and inspire pharmacists to consider new ways they can impact patient outcomes — beyond the prescription.
Registration
Registration details for the session, other RCSI Charter Meeting sessions, programme of events and speaker bios will be issued closer to the event. Don’t forget to keep an eye on the IIOP website and our social media accounts for further details and updates. Registration for the session will be free for IIOP members wishing to attend the IIOP/NCCP session only. Keep an eye on the
IIOP website for registration details. For anyone wishing to attend other events during RCSI Charter Week 2026, please visit the RCSI Charter Meeting webpage.
