India
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Health ministry limits stem cell therapy to 18 adult conditions
The Indian Express··17 Sept
The Union health ministry asked states to act against doctors and clinics offering stem cell therapies for unproven conditions. The advisory cites a Supreme Court judgment and points to Medical Council ethics rules plus the Clinical Establishments Act. Therapy is allowed for 18 adult and 14 child conditions on the ministry list. Autism spectrum disorder is not among them.
Prism
What It Means For You
- Patients offered stem cell care for autism were told it may proceed only in an approved trial setting.
- Action under the Clinical Establishments Act covers 19 states and Union Territories that adopted it.
- Delhi has not implemented that Act; ethics rules still apply nationwide, the report said.
What's Happening
- State and district regulators were asked to ensure compliance on stem cell research and therapy.
- The National Medical Commission reiterated the Supreme Court decision earlier this month.
- Unauthorised use beyond approved indications would constitute professional misconduct, it warned.
What Therapies Are Allowed
- Listed adult conditions include acute myeloid leukaemia, B cell lymphoma and multiple myeloma.
- Autoimmune examples on the list include multiple sclerosis and aplastic anaemia.
- The Supreme Court case that prompted the advisory concerned autism spectrum disorder.
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