Poster Presentation 2025 Joint Meeting of the COSA ASM and IPOS Congress

Supporting Pacific Islands cancer pharmacists to expand their knowledge and skills to advance cancer care. (126270)

Marissa Ryan 1 2 , Trisha Rofeta 3 , Dunstan Kaisman 4 , Sarah Heward 5 , Narelle Carnazzola 6 7 , Beth Hua 8 , Gail Rowan 9 , Ben Felmingham 10 , Kosar Latif 11 , Desmond Yip 12 13
  1. Pharmacy Department, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  2. School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  3. Pharmacy Department, National Referral Hospital, Honiara, Solomon Islands
  4. Port Moresby General Hospital, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
  5. Cancer Services, WA Country Health Service, East Perth, WA, Australia
  6. Pharmacy Department, Townsville University Hospital, Townsville, QLD, Australia
  7. College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
  8. Pharmacy Branch, Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, Canberra, ACT, Australia
  9. Pharmacy Department, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  10. Independent Consultant Oncology Pharmacist (Self-Employed), Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  11. Pharmacy Department, The Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  12. Canberra Hospital, Canberra, ACT, Australia
  13. School of Medicine and Psychology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia

Background: Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Solomon Islands (SI) are resource constrained countries providing limited systemic anticancer therapy (SACT). Australian pharmacists provide valuable support through mentoring and in-person visits. In May 2025, PNG and SI pharmacists attended the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia’s Cancer Pharmacists Group Clinical Practice Foundation Course in Melbourne. This research aimed to describe their experience of the Foundation Course and a one-day Australian cancer centre placement. 

Methods: The Pacific Islands pharmacists shared reflective summaries with their mentors and placement hosts, providing valuable insights to better prepare future Pacific Island delegates for the Foundation Course, and to enhance ongoing training and education.

Impact on practice: PNG and SI cancer pharmacists have primarily focused on SACT supply, with only minimal involvement in SACT clinical verification and review. The PNG delegate stated, “I’ve realised that there are more clinical aspects I need to consider, which reveals the importance of pharmacists as an integral part of the multidisciplinary team.” Furthermore, the pharmacists acknowledged that whilst they don’t have access to monoclonal antibodies such as checkpoint-inhibitor immunotherapies in their day-to-day practice, learning about these medicines is important as they may be offered in the future.

Discussion: The PNG and SI pharmacists suggested a discussion on how Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme works, before attending the course and placement, would be beneficial to better understand how it affects SACT choice with lines of therapy. The next steps focus on empowering Pacific Islands pharmacists with the expertise to clinically verify SACT and be involved in patient counselling and symptom management, strengthening the multidisciplinary approach. This initiative aims to drive more equitable care for patients with cancer across the Pacific Islands. Although the reflections come from neighbouring Pacific countries, Australian mentors acknowledge the distinct challenges within each country's provinces, highlighting the broad and varied needs.