The sixth Vietnam-France conference on Blood Transfusions, Bone Marrow Transplant and Haematopoietic Stem Cells took place in Quy Nhon city on October 21 and 22, 2022. The programme was organised by Ho Chi Minh City Blood Transfusion Haematology Hospital in collaboration with C.H.U. Grenoble University, Grenoble Blood Transfusion Centre, France. Dr Basma M’Barek, Head of Hy Vong Cancer Care Centre, FV Hospital, gave a special report at this conference.

Dr Basma M’Barek, Head of FV Hy Vong Cancer Centre, attends the sixth Vietnam-France Blood Transfusion, Bone Marrow Transplantation and Haematopoietic Stem Cells Conference, in Quy Nhon

The conference gathered more than 400 attendees: professors, doctors, pharmacists, nurses, engineers, technicians, and experts in stem cell transplantation from Vietnam, France, and many other countries. Over the course of two days, many presentations were given on the latest scientific research in haematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the treatment of haematological pathology; cancer pathology; treating complications related to grafts; infections; and blood transfusion in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Representing FV Hospital, Dr Basma M’Barek presented on the topic “Body Radiotherapy: Total body irradiation” and spoke about the first case of haematologic malignancy in Vietnam that she has successfully treated via this technique. Attending experts highly appreciated FV Hospital’s contribution to the success of this marrow transplant, emphasising that TBI radiotherapy has almost no side effects.

Dr Basma M’Barek presents the technique of whole-body radiotherapy and its application in the treatment of haematologic malignancies in Vietnam.

Dr Basma also pointed out the challenges and difficulties when implementing the TBI technique in Vietnam. Because TBI is high tech and relatively new in Vietnam, doctors seeking to deploy it successfully require a team of oncologists specialising in radiation therapy, technicians, nurses and physical engineers who are highly trained in this field.

Dr Basma also added that in countries in Europe and elsewhere, TBI radiotherapy techniques are currently concentrated in a few centres as the treatment is time-consuming and requires a highly specialised team. This is a direction is worth considering in Vietnam. “At FV Hospital, we are ready to cooperate with pancreatic transplant teams and haematologists to close the technology gap and bring Vietnamese patients the best possible treatment methods and outcomes,” explains Dr Basma at the conference.

In recent years, her diligence in researching new treatment regimens and active participation in academic exchanges has enabled Dr Basma M’Barek to build a reputation and prove her skills and capabilities among the medical community at home and abroad. Through similar conferences, FV Hospital and doctors such as Basma M’Barek hope to contribute new advances in methodologies and share the latest updates on cancer treatment regimens, including those that FV is working to deploy or adopt in future.