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Worldwide Network for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (WBMT) Recommendations Regarding Essential Medications
Riad El Fakih1, Hildegard Greinix2, Mickey Koh3
1Oncology Center, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Insights
Establishing a hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) program requires careful planning of essential medications. This study surveyed experts to prioritize drugs needed for HCT program startup, aiding in resource allocation and successful program development.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Transplantation Medicine
- Clinical Pharmacy
Background:
- Establishing a hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) program is a complex, multi-departmental undertaking.
- Pharmacy and medication management are critical components for HCT program initiation.
- Lack of standardized guidance for essential HCT medications can hinder program development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and prioritize essential medications required for initiating a hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) program.
- To provide a structured framework for medication procurement and management during HCT program establishment.
- To leverage expert opinion to guide resource allocation for new HCT centers.
Main Methods:
- A structured survey was developed by senior physicians and pharmacists specializing in transplantation.
- A comprehensive list of medications used across different phases of HCT was compiled.
- Experienced HCT physicians (n=30) worldwide rated medication necessity on a 7-point scale (1=absolute requirement, 7=not required).
Main Results:
- The survey generated a prioritized list of essential medications for HCT program startup.
- Expert ratings provided a clear distinction between critical and non-essential drugs for different HCT program stages.
- Results highlight the importance of pharmacy involvement in early HCT program planning.
Conclusions:
- The study provides a data-driven guide for essential medication selection in new HCT programs.
- Prioritization of medications based on expert consensus facilitates efficient resource management.
- This resource aims to streamline the establishment of HCT programs globally.
Abstract:
Establishing a hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) program is complex. Planning is essential while establishing such a program to overcome the expected challenges. Authorities involved in HCT program establishment will need to coordinate the efforts between the different departments required to start up the program. One essential department is pharmacy and the medications required. To help facilitate this, the Worldwide Network for Blood and Marrow Transplantation organized a structured survey to address the essential medications required to start up an HCT program. A group of senior physicians and pharmacists prepared a list of the medications used at the different phases of transplantation. These drugs were then rated by a questionnaire using a scale of necessity based on the stage of development of the transplant program. The questionnaire was sent to 30 physicians, in different parts of the world, who have between 5 and 40 years of experience in autologous and/or allogeneic transplantation. This group of experts scored each medication on a 7-point scale, ranging from an absolute requirement (score of 1) to not required (score of 7). The results are presented here to help guide the prioritization of required medications.
