From oncology pharmacy to pharmaceutical care: new contributions to multidisciplinary cancer care

Abstract

In recent years a paradigm shift towards a patient-focused rather than a disease-focused approach occurred in many health care systems. The pharmacy profession experienced an accordant development. The traditional drug-oriented services expanded towards patient-oriented services. In oncology, pharmacists established central services for compounding of cytotoxic drugs and offered therapeutic drug monitoring for critical substances. Pharmaceutical care concepts are now being introduced to optimize individual drug therapy. Pharmaceutical care aims at improving safety and therapeutic outcomes and consequently, the patient's quality of life. These objectives imply a close relationship to supportive care. To achieve this, a multidisciplinary approach seems to be beneficial.