Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) in the UAE
摘要
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) was not available in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) until July 2020, when the first adult HSCT was done in Abu Dhabi by the Abu Dhabi Stem Cell Center. HSCT is increasingly indicated for various non-malignant and malignant diseases. In the UAE, adults and pediatric patients that could benefit from HSCT were commonly travelling abroad for such procedures, with the associated cost, logistics of travel, delay in delivering HSCT, and social challenges of spending an extended period of time outside the UAE. In this chapter, we will highlight the progress of HSCT services in the UAE and also share our experiences and lessons learned during the establishment of a comprehensive pediatric and adult HSCT service in the UAE that is designed to cater for UAE citizens and residents as well as those in neighboring countries facing similar HSCT accessibility challenges.