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

Kaikani, Wafaa; Mohammed, Sqalli Houssani

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.