Challenges posed by COVID -19 to patients with cancer: lessons from a Moroccan experience

Pan Afr Med J. 2020 Jun 4;35(Suppl 2):62. doi: 10.11604/pamj.supp.2020.35.2.22585. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Outbreaks of infectious etiology, particularly those caused by a novel virus that has no known treatment or vaccine may result in the interruption of medical care and the life-threatening event among patients with cancer. Oncologists in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are worried about how COVID-19 is expected to disproportionately affect cancer patients, how can they best care for cancer patients in an uncertain and dangerous healthcare environment. This article discusses some strategies that oncologists from low- and middle-income countries can take to keep cancer patients and staff safe while continuing to provide compassionate, high-quality care under circumstances we've never had to face before. The approach is taken toward managing this high-risk situation could be easily adopted by health care organizations. We hope that, with those simple steps, we will continue to provide compassionate, high-quality care under circumstances we've never had to face before.

Keywords: COVID-19; Cancer; care; crisis management.

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19*
  • Delivery of Health Care / organization & administration*
  • Delivery of Health Care / standards
  • Developing Countries
  • Humans
  • Morocco
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Quality of Health Care*