Ministry of Health Family Welfare has issued an advisory to all States and Union Territories regarding the regulation of stem cell therapy. The advisory reiterates that the existing framework seeks to ensure that stem cell therapy is permitted as standard care in routine clinical practice only for disease conditions included in the list approved by the Ministry.

 

It also stipulates that the therapeutic use of any type of stem cell in autism is to remain restricted to duly approved clinical trials, in accordance with the National Guidelines for Stem Cell Research, 2017. The guidelines were jointly issued by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Department of Biotechnology.

 

The advisory has been issued to the states and UTs that have adopted the Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010. The Ministry has also requested the concerned State and District Regulatory Authorities and clinical establishments to ensure strict compliance with the applicable framework governing stem cell research and therapy.