[Role of pharmacists in providing outpatient clinic cancer chemotherapy--a current status of Tokyo Metropolitan Komagome Hospital].

: The most important thing in outpatient clinic cancer chemotherapy is to carry out a drug safely and appropriately to patient. In 2003, we started outpatient cancer chemotherapy with the work of preparing injections. Although the number of patients is few, we have extended the work to inpatient cancer chemotherapy at present. It appears that outpatient clinic cancer chemotherapy will continuously be developed with medical environment changes. Therefore, it becomes more important for us to establish and reinforce cooperation with other healthcare professionals in providing outpatient clinic cancer chemotherapy. In the situation like that, the roles of pharmacists include: (1) a prescription check to be enhanced, (2) an execution of proper drug preparation and (3) to lead the patient by doctor or nurse about their medications, etc.