Poster Presentation Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2026

Cancer pharmacy standards for the precision generation: Update of the Advanced Pharmacy Australia (AdPha) Oncology and Haematology Standards of Practice (142545)

Marissa Ryan 1 2 , John Coutsouvelis 3 4 , Shaun O'Connor 5 , Alborz Soroush 6 , Maggie Chau 7 , Jim Siderov 8 , Senthil Lingaratnam 9 , Yee Mellor 10
  1. Pharmacy Department, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  2. School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  3. Centre for Medicine Use and Safety, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  4. Pharmacy Department, Alfred Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  5. Pharmacy Department, St Vincent's Public Hospital Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  6. Pharmacy Department, Ramsay Health, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
  7. Pharmacy Department, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  8. Pharmacy Department, Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
  9. Pharmacy Department, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  10. Advanced Pharmacy Australia Oncology and Haematology Leadership Committee, Advanced Pharmacy Australia, Collingwood, VIC, Australia

Aim: To evaluate the 2026 Advanced Pharmacy Australia (AdPha) Oncology and Haematology Standards and identify key advancements from the 2020 version, with a focus on precision medicine in contemporary cancer pharmacy service delivery.

Method: A structured qualitative comparison was undertaken by the authorship group between the 2026 and 2020 standards. Content was systematically analysed across core domains including framework design, workforce, scope of practice, safety and governance, and alignment with national healthcare priorities. Key innovations and practice-enabling changes were synthesised thematically.

Results: The 2026 Standards represent a major transformation in cancer pharmacy practice. A shift to a quality-driven framework, underpinned by explicit Quality Statements and Elements, strengthens alignment with national safety and clinical governance requirements. The Standards formally recognise best-practice clinical support activities for pharmacy technicians who have completed competency assessment and/or work-based training. Scope of practice now includes non-malignant haematology, survivorship, hybrid care models, pharmacogenomics, collaborative prescribing, immuno-oncology stewardship, and participation in molecular tumour boards- positioning pharmacists as leaders in precision medicine. Updated staffing guidance reflects increasing treatment complexity and advancing scope to inform sustainable service planning. Strengthened expectations around medication safety, protocol adherence, and clinical verification further reinforce governance. There is an increased emphasis on integration of research, quality improvement, and performance indicators, promoting continuous evaluation and innovation. Finally, the Standards embed several national healthcare priorities, including person-centred and culturally responsive care.

Conclusion: The 2026 AdPha Standards move beyond descriptive practice to a high-impact, future-focused framework that redefines the role of cancer pharmacists and technicians. By enabling expanded scope, workforce optimisation, and system-level quality improvement, these Standards provide a critical foundation for enhancing medication safety, advancing precision medicine, and delivering equitable, high-value cancer care.