Alphega Europe - June 2023

Cancer patients across Europe will now be able to turn to their community pharmacist for enhanced support and guidance around the side-effects and emotional impact of their cancer treatment.

Community pharmacists from six European countries now have access to the Alphega Pharmacy Oncology Support Programme, which upskills pharmacists to help to augment the advice and support they can provide to patients living with cancer.

With rates of cancer forecast to rise throughout Europe[1], and cancer patients likely on average to visit hospital less often[2], community pharmacists are well-placed to look to support cancer patients with managing the side-effects of their treatment.

If current trends continue, cancer could overtake cardiovascular disease and become the leading cause of death and disability in Europe[3]. New cases of cancer are set to increase 21.4%, reaching 3.4 million per year by 2040[4]. Yet only 6.2% of the overall European health budget is allocated towards cancer care and treatment[5], increasing pressure on healthcare systems.

Furthermore, during treatment cancer patients are likely to see a pharmacist more often than a doctor. This trend is set to increase as more treatment is delivered orally at home, rather than intravenously in a hospital environment[6].

Research shows that seven in ten cancer patients would value psychological support during or after their cancer treatment[2]. The training included in the Alphega Programme can assist pharmacists in providing advice to oncology patients on mental health, managing side effects of cancer treatment and lifestyle matters, all of which could potentially reducing pressure on the wider healthcare system. 

The Alphega Pharmacy Oncology Support Programme also covers practical help topics, such as oral care, nutrition advice and skin, hair and nail care among others, helping patients to get more of the support they need because community pharmacists are easily accessible, rather than needing to book a GP or consultant appointment.  

The aim of the Alphega Pharmacy Oncology Support Programme is to help upskill pharmacists and their teams to provide more expert advice to patients living with cancer, raising their profile in the community as key healthcare providers. Enhancing knowledge amongst community pharmacists about cancer treatment and its side effects is vital as cancer cases are set to increase if current trends continue1.

Mariola Valero, Head of Value Proposition from Alphega Pharmacy said: “Going through cancer is all consuming - physically and mentally – that’s why it’s so important to have someone you can count on easily accessible.” 

“The Alphega Pharmacy Oncology Support Programme is designed as a helping hand in times of need. We’re hopeful that the supportive care and expert pharmacist advice that Alphega pharmacists are now better able to offer can help make the difficult journey of treatment a little bit easier for oncology patients and their carers.”  

“Our pharmacists are trained to facilitate conversations that encourage patients and caregivers to open up about their needs, offer empathetic support, suggest products and other useful information that can help patients to better manage the side-effects of their treatment – both physical and mental. Finally, when treatment ends, our pharmacists can help patients connect with strategies that enable them to return to 'normality' sooner.” 

The Alphega Oncology Support Programme is available exclusively to Alphega Pharmacy members. So far, the programme has been available to just over 2,180 pharmacists and Alphega is now planning a series of additional training resources which will focus on prevention and early detection of cancer. Access to the training, and more information about it, is available to Alphega members through their dedicated Alphega consultant.  

Notes to editor

Alphega Oncology Training Programme has been launched in Spain, Portugal, France, Czech Republic, Romania and Turkey, with a view to expand to the remaining countries where Alphega is present.

Alphega Pharmacy

Alphega Pharmacy is a leading European network of independent pharmacists, whose aim is to improve the health and wellbeing of communities by delivering a future vision for independent community pharmacy.

Since initial launch in 2001, it has grown to support over 9,600* independent pharmacy members across 10** countries: the Czech Republic, France, Italy***, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany***, the UK, Turkey, Romania and Portugal***.

Alphega Pharmacy is committed to helping its members to bring better health and wellbeing to their patients and consumers. The brand offers clear branding, business mentoring, retail support services and supply benefits, together with pharmacy and IT solutions for operating more effectively and driving customer traffic and sales (offering may differ by country).

Alphega Pharmacy members benefit from being part of a European network of pharmacists, while at the same time, retaining their independence – a key consideration for many independent pharmacists.

Alphega Pharmacy operates with the full support of Alliance Healthcare, one of the largest pharmaceutical wholesalers in Europe, and is part of AmerisourceBergen, a leading global healthcare company, with a foundation in pharmaceutical distribution and solutions for manufacturers, pharmacies and providers.

www.alphega-pharmacy.com

*As at September, 2022

**As at September, 2022

*** Associate businesses

[1] European Commission research, 2020, Available at: https://dailyreporter.esmo.org/esmo-congress-2021/all-articles/new-cases-of-cancer-are-expected-to-reach-3.4-million-in-2040-in-europe [Accessed: 16 May 2022]

[2] Current models of support from community pharmacies for patients on oral anticancer medicines: Current models of support from community pharmacies for patients on oral anticancer medicines (sagepub.com)

[3] European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations, Cancer Care in 2020 – An overview of cancer outcomes data across Europe, Available at: https://www.efpia.eu/publications/cancer-comparator-report/cancer-care/  [Accessed: 17 May 2022]

[4] European Commission research, 2020, Available at: https://dailyreporter.esmo.org/esmo-congress-2021/all-articles/new-cases-of-cancer-are-expected-to-reach-3.4-million-in-2040-in-europe [Accessed: 16 May 2022]

[5] European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations, Cancer Care in 2020 – An overview of cancer outcomes data across Europe, Available at: https://www.efpia.eu/publications/cancer-comparator-report/cancer-care/ [Accessed: 17 May 2022]

[6] Current models of support from community pharmacies for patients on oral anticancer medicines: Current models of support from community pharmacies for patients on oral anticancer medicines (sagepub.com)