Ministry halts stem cell treatment approvals
Source: Xinhua/Shanghai Daily |
January 11, 2012, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
CHINA'S Ministry of Health has ordered a halt to unapproved stem cell treatments - a growing but loosely regulated industry.
The ministry said yesterday it had stopped accepting applications for procedures until July as it tries to bring the industry under control with a yearlong campaign to halt unauthorized stem cell therapy trials.
Regulations on stem cell treatments are lighter in China compared to other nations and the country is seen as a last hope for people suffering problems ranging from cancer to spinal cord injuries.
Patients, including some from overseas, are willing to pay tens of thousands of yuan in a bid to restore mobility or sight.
Ministry spokesman Deng Haihua said medical institutions should not alter trials of approved clinical tests nor charge volunteers during tests.
China has no specific policy for clinical trials or the application of stem cell technology. But they are subject to two regulations governing medical practices.
The regulations place more importance on volunteers' rights, interests and health and allow strict monitoring of technologies that are controversial or high risk.
Stem cell research has been a controversial issue since the first stem cells were isolated more than a decade ago. Critics object to the research because it destroys human embryos.
However, others argue that the cells have great potential in the fight against Parkinson's disease, diabetes and other serious illnesses.
The ministry said yesterday it had stopped accepting applications for procedures until July as it tries to bring the industry under control with a yearlong campaign to halt unauthorized stem cell therapy trials.
Regulations on stem cell treatments are lighter in China compared to other nations and the country is seen as a last hope for people suffering problems ranging from cancer to spinal cord injuries.
Patients, including some from overseas, are willing to pay tens of thousands of yuan in a bid to restore mobility or sight.
Ministry spokesman Deng Haihua said medical institutions should not alter trials of approved clinical tests nor charge volunteers during tests.
China has no specific policy for clinical trials or the application of stem cell technology. But they are subject to two regulations governing medical practices.
The regulations place more importance on volunteers' rights, interests and health and allow strict monitoring of technologies that are controversial or high risk.
Stem cell research has been a controversial issue since the first stem cells were isolated more than a decade ago. Critics object to the research because it destroys human embryos.
However, others argue that the cells have great potential in the fight against Parkinson's disease, diabetes and other serious illnesses.
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