In response to the COVID 19 pandemic, healthcare organizations around the world have implemented and utilised changes in cancer care including a wide variety of technologies. The purpose of this collection of papers is to showcase and share learning from those who have had experience of these changes including implementing the use of IT solutions and/or IT science to assist and improve clinical outcomes for patients.

The overarching theme for the research topic is impact of COVID-19 pandemic on cancer care.

In 2019, an ISOPP survey identified several barriers to biosimilar implementation faced by oncology pharmacists internationally. The African region was identified as facing several challenges to implementation that were different from those experienced in higher income settings.  An African survey was designed in 2021 to explore these challenges further, with a view to creating educational materials and resources to meet the specific needs of oncology professionals in Africa.  The main results are shared here.

By Inés Mendoza Acosta, Becaria Grupo GEDEFO SEFH

The Oncology Pharmacy Working Group of the Spanish Society of Hospital Pharmacy (GEDEFO-SEFH) held its 7th Annual Meeting on May 18-19 in Madrid. As every year, this meeting has focused on multidisciplinary patient care and the possibility of sharing experiences with colleagues from all over the country. 

By Razeeya Khan, Clinical Pharmacy lecturer, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa

I am Razeeya Khan, a lecturer in the Clinical Pharmacy division at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa. I am passionate about furthering oncology pharmacy education in South Africa, and at Wits University we have made strides to introduce oncology pharmacy into our undergraduate and postgraduate curriculum.