Real-world issues and potential solutions in HCT during the COVID-19 pandemic: Perspectives from the WBMT and the CIBMTR's Health Services and International Studies Committee.

Abstract The current COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has impacted many facets of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) in both developed and developing countries. Realizing the challenges as a result of this pandemic affecting the daily practice of the HCT centers, and the recognition of the variability in practice worldwide, the Worldwide Network for Blood a Marrow Transplantation (WBMT) and the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Researchn(CIBMTR) Health Services and International Studies Committee have jointly produced an expert opinion statement as a general guide to deal with certain aspects of HCT including diagnostics for SARS-CoV-2 in HCT patients, pre-and-post-HCT management, donor issues, medical tourism and facilities management. During these crucial times, which may last for months or years, the HCT community must reorganize to proceed with transplant activity in those patients who urgently require it, albeit with extreme caution.This shared knowledge may be of value to the HCT community in the absence of highquality evidence-based medicine.