Dear ESOP Members,

Time is quickly flowing. As ESOP, we have worked hard in 2018, followed by the most advanced innovations in the world for cancer patients. We have developed existing projects and made new projects. We will follow the most advanced technologies, experiences and information in order to do the best in 2019 and later years.

Every information, every work and labor is valuable. ESOP newsletter is here to keep you informed of these studies and innovations.

In the last issue of 2018, you see the articles of Current Challenges of Oncology Phramacy Conference-Slovenia, 63th Congress of the Spanish Hospital Pharmacy Society and Oncology Pharmacy in South Africa.

Wishing you a happy new year & enjoyable reading,

Eda Gedikoglu

Chair of Publication

Current Challenges of Oncology Phramacy Conference, Slovenia

Current Challenges of Oncology Phramacy conference was held with 60 participants on 23th October 2018 in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Novelties in oncology from clinical trials to treatment were presented. Lectures on the novelties in the treatment of hematology, lung, breast, bladder, kidney cancer and melanoma were given.  Also the role of pharmacogenomics for choice of treatment in personalised therapy was dicussed. There are new biosimilar drugs emerging on market  as patients of orinigators are expiring. So there was a lecture on biosimilars. Immunotherapy with check point inhibitors is more and more present as a treatment option in many cancers, so the basic principles of immunotherapy with the presentation of the drugs and management of their adverese drug reactions were discussed. Case reports with immunotherapy were presented. There was also a focus on the management of adverse drug reaction  in community pharmacy and how to establish causality of the drug to the ADE.

Repored by Igor Virant, Slovenia

63th CONGRESS OF THE SPANISH HOSPITAL PHARMACY SOCIETY

63th Congress of the Spanish Hospital Pharmacy Society was held on 8-10th November 2018 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain with 1400 participants. The Oncology Pharmacist Group (GEDEFO) from the Spanish Society of Hospital Pharmacy (SEFH) had played a relevant role at the 63th Congress of SEFH held in Palma de Mallorca from the 8 to the 10th of November under the slogan "La salud nos mueve" "Health moves us".

Among the activities organized by GEDEFO, the workshop " Stratification model for Pharmaceutical care to the cancer patient" trained 120 hospital pharmacist on the use of this new tool which is going to be validated in the next years through an ambitous randomised trial with more than 1.000 patients to be included. Another highlight by GEDEFO was the Workshop " Real world data in immunoncology" where pharmacists had the chance to exchange their experiences in the evolving immunotherapy landscape. During the SEFH congress , two GEDEFO members obteined special rewards: Ana Cristina Cercos obteined the best communication price for " Design, development and implementation of automatic repackaging machine for non sterile dangerous drugs".

Eva Gonz�lez-Haba won a recognition for her work on safety with "clinical and economic impact of a quality control image system implementation for antineoplastic elaboration. Phocus RX proyect".

Reported by Garbine Lizeaga, Spain

ONCOLOGY PHARMACY IN SOUTH AFRICA

1. Who can be an oncology pharmacist?
   At the moment there are future plans to have a short course in Oncology to educate oncology pharmacists in our country.  To date there are no accredited courses available.  Pharmacists interested in oncology can work at an oncology practice and usually receive training on site from other more experienced oncology pharmacists.  Our pharmacy council does not recognise it as a speciality.
2. Do you have an oncology pharmacy training or internship? Can you describe the process in detail? 
   No
3. Is it mandatory to work oncology pharmacist in the oncology clinics?
   No – obviously the Physicians prefer somebody with experience in the field.
4. Where do oncology pharmacists work? Where do they work most? 
   They usually work in the private oncology practises and in the state hospital pharmacies.
5. What are the duties and responsibilities of the oncology pharmacists?
   Our oncology pharmacists runs the oncology pharmacy.  This include mixing of all the scripts, procurement duties and patient navigation.
6. Is there an oncology pharmacy association? How many members do the association have? Please give information about the association’s works. 
   We have established a South African Society of Oncology Pharmacists.  It is in it’s infancy and we hope to grow strongly.  See  https://sasoph.org.za/
7. Where is the oncology medicines provided from? 
   In private practice the medicine is delivered though third party stake holders.  There are a few in South Africa.  In state it is done by tender and ordered directly.
8. Where can patients take treatments? Are these treatments paid by the country? Please explain. 
   85% of our country receive treatment at state hospitals.  It is subsidised and the patient pay a nominal fee according to income.  In private the medical aid will pay for the treatment.  There are some discrepancies as the state patients do not have access to all the newest drugs.
9. Are there any planned arrangements in the future? Please explain.
   The Society plan to be involved with many national oncology conferences offering parallel sessions.  We also plan to add relevant data to our member forum website such as SOP templates, drug information and any data to assist the pharmacist in enhancing patient outcomes.
10. Additions... 
    we are proud to have our logo shared with the last conference activities and receiving achnowledgement as a Society.  We endevour to grow and become a speciality in our country.

Reported by Carien van der Merwe

European Society of Oncology Pharmacy
Veritaskai 6, D 21079 Hamburg
Tel: 0049 - 40 466 500 300
Mail: membershipservice@esop.li

Fax: 0049 - 40 466 500 100
Web: www.esop.li