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 co-host an interprofessional session with NCCP 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.
The IIOP/NCCP 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.
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-centred, 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 coordinated care.
The two-hour session 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.
The session will also spotlight educational initiatives, including the NCCP Competency Framework for Pharmacists Providing Cancer Care, the IIOP Cancer Care Hub, and the Cancer Care Champion Pharmacist Programme. Such initiatives are designed to support pharmacists in building confidence and competence when caring for patients with cancer, whether in hospital or community settings.
Registration for the session
Registration details for the IIOP session, programme and speaker details will be issued closer to the event. Keep an eye on the IIOP website and social media platforms for updates. Registration for the IIOP event will be FREE! for IIOP members wishing to attend the IIOP session only. For anyone wishing to attend other events during RCSI Charter Week 2026, please visit the RCSI Charter Meeting webpage.
What is RCSI Charter Meeting?
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 faculties and speciality groups in RCSI.
The Charter Meeting will take place, in person, from Tuesday, 10 February to Saturday, 14 February 2026 in RCSI.