title: Oncology pharmacy units: a safety policy for handling hazardous drugs and related waste in low- and middle-income African countries-Angolan experience.
abstract: In African countries, higher rates of late-stage cancers at the time of first diagnosis are a reality. In this context, hazardous drugs (HDs), such as chemotherapy, play an important role and have immense benefits for patients' treatment. HDs should be handled under specific conditions. At least a class 5 environment primary engineering control (PEC), physically located in an appropriate buffer area, is mandatory for sterile HDs compounding, as well as administrative control, personal protective equipment, work practices and other engineering and environmental controls, in order to protect the environment, patient, and worker. The aim of this study is to describe the Angolan experience regarding the development of oncology pharmacy units and discuss international evidence-based guidelines on handling HDs and related waste. Measures to incorporate modern and economical solutions to upgrade or build adequate and safe facilities and staff training, in order to comply with international guidelines in this area, are crucial tasks for African countries of low and middle income.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Unit of Girassol Clinic, Comandante Gika 225, Luanda, Angola.
authors.forename: Ana Vaz
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: da Conceição
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Department of Portuguese Institute of Oncology, Rua Dr António Bernardino de Almeida - 4200-072, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Dora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bernardo
authors.affiliation: Cancer Unit of Sagrada Esperança Clinic, Av Murtala Mohammed, Luanda, Angola.
authors.forename: Lygia Vieira
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.affiliation: Angolan Institute of Cancer Control, Rua Amilcar Cabral, Luanda, Angola.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Miguel
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Department of Portuguese Institute of Oncology, Rua Dr António Bernardino de Almeida - 4200-072, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bessa
authors.affiliation: Nurse Department of Portuguese Institute of Oncology, Rua Dr António Bernardino de Almeida - 4200-072, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.affiliation: ONCOCIR - Education and Care in Oncology, Marçal, Luanda, Angola.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: ONCOCIR - Education and Care in Oncology, Marçal, Luanda, Angola.
authors.forename: Blasques
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: ONCOCIR - Education and Care in Oncology, Marçal, Luanda, Angola ; Experimental Pathology and Therapeutics Group and Surgical Oncology Department, Portuguese Institute of Oncology, Rua Dr António Bernardino de Almeida - 4200-072, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Lúcio Lara
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Santos
keywords: Angola; chemotherapy; hazardous drugs; low- and middle-income industries; oncology pharmacy units