Research Article

Challenges and Outcomes of the First Stem Cell Transplant Program in Tanzania, East Africa

Table 1

Preparatory work.

Time periodActivityPeople involvedLocationDuration/details

July 2017Clinical training on HSCTSix people (one oncologist, one haematologist, one pharmacist, and three nurses)BLK hospital, India3 months

August 2018Clinical training on HSCTOne haematologistApollo hospital, Chennai, India1 month
Clinical training on HSCTOne oncologistApollo hospital, Bangalore, India1 month
Clinical training on HSCTOne oncologistApollo hospital, Mumbai, India1 month

June 2019Planning committee was created13 people (two haematologists, two hospital administrators, one microbiologist, three lab scientists, one biomedical engineer, one civil engineer, one mechanical engineer, one procurement officer and director finance)MNH5 months
(1) Gather information on procuring medications and consumables
(2) The director of finance was responsible for conducting cost analysis for one procedure and advised the government on the requisites required for the stem cell transplant unit
(3) The engineers renovated the HSCT rooms in MNH, mloganzila and ensured that the stem cell transplant unit is HEPAfiltered
(4) The biomedical department underwent training on the equipments which would be used during the stem cell transplant

December 2019Sanctioning of financial resources: Tsh 6.2 billion (∼$2.5 million)Government of Tanzania(1) Procuring equipment for the cell processing unit, renovation of the of the day care chemotherapy facility and the stem cell transplant unit
(2) In-house training of 30 nurses on HSCT by a team from USA

September 2021Collaboration was created between MNH and the international haematology consortium, based in HealthCare global (HCG-IHC) hospital in Bangalore, IndiaDetail the roles, responsibilities and the operational methodology for creating an HSCT program at MNH