As part of the 2025 National Skin Cancer Campaign (NHKK), several dermatology practices across Switzerland participated in the annual Free Screening Day.
This year, the SSDV, in collaboration with pharmaSuisse, piloted a new approach: integrating pharmacy referrals to better reach individuals at higher risk of developing skin cancer.
Traditionally, the screening day has drawn individuals already conscious of their skin health—an audience less likely to present with suspicious or malignant lesions. To shift the focus toward early detection in high-risk groups, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians across five cantons received specialized training in identifying signs of chronic sun damage. In total, 212 pharmacy professionals across Vaud, Geneva, Bern, Luzern, and Ticino participated, representing 80 pharmacies.
Preliminary analyses from screening centers in Lausanne, Ticino, and Geneva offer initial insights into the pilot’s outcomes. In both Lausanne and Ticino, only 10% of attendees were referred by pharmacies—a lower-than-anticipated figure. In Geneva, the proportion was even smaller, which may be due to the fact that registration opened just two weeks before the screening day, giving pharmacists limited time to identify and refer patients.
The initial goal was to reserve 50% of available consultation slots for pharmacy-referred individuals. However, a substantial number of appointments were filled by self-registered participants. At present, the reasons behind this distribution are not fully clear and may relate to a range of logistical or practical factors.
Despite the low number of referrals, early results show encouraging detection rates among pharmacy-referred individuals. In Ticino, among 18 referred patients, 1 melanoma and 2 basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) were diagnosed—translating to detection rates of 5% and 11%, respectively. In comparison, among the 187 participants from the general public, 2 melanomas (1%) and 5 BCCs (2.7%) were found. In Geneva, 1 melanoma was detected among only 2 pharmacy-referred individuals (a 50% detection rate), while 6 melanomas (3%) and 5 BCCs (2.5%) were diagnosed among 208 public participants.
These early results, though based on limited data, suggest that pharmacy referrals may help detect a higher proportion of skin cancers—supporting the rationale behind this new strategy. With data from Bern and Luzern still pending, the results so far point to the need for improved referral workflows and greater pharmacy participation. Earlier communication and an optimized registration process may be key to scaling this promising approach.
A full evaluation will follow in the coming months. Feedback from pharmacists will also be collected to help refine communication strategies and timelines for future campaigns. While more work is needed to expand the pharmacy referral model, this pilot marks a valuable step toward more targeted and effective skin cancer screening in Switzerland.
Author
An Buckinx, PhD
Director of Scientific Communication
International Cancer Prevention
Institute,
Épalinges