On Monday, leaders from ASTCT sent a letter to several members of Congress, urging them to to ensure the implementation of the Defense Production Act (DPA) to manufacture of necessary medical equipment to combat COVID-19.

The letter reads: "The American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT) urges Congress to ensure the implementation of the DPA. The ASTCT is a professional membership association of more than 2,200 physicians, scientists, and other healthcare professionals promoting blood and marrow transplantation and cellular therapy through research, education, scholarly publication and clinical standards. The ASTCT serves the Medicare and Medicaid populations and the transplantation community which includes some of the most vulnerable patients. Patients who receive transplantation in both the BMT and cellular therapy setting are among the most susceptible to disease given their compromised immune systems. It is imperative that we ensure the safety of these patients and that all healthcare professionals who interact with these patients be fully prepared with personal protective equipment."

Read the full letter here. 

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