Staff writer, with CNAVarious types of cell therapy are expected to be allowed as soon as this month, and they could benefit about 100,000 cancer patients per year, the government said on Sunday. The amendment was designed to close a loophole that required patients to seek cell therapy abroad, sometimes resulting in disputes due to language barriers and a lack of understanding of the therapy being provided. Ministry of Health and Welfare Department of Medical Affairs Director-General Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) said four medical centers have applied to provide cell therapies and the applications are being reviewed. Once available, the therapies could be used to help as many as 100,000 cancer patients per year, Shih said. They also include CD34-selected peripheral blood stem cell transplants, used to treat blood cancers such as myeloma and also strokes; bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplants used to treat strokes and degenerative joint disease; and autologous chondrocyte implantations to treat knee cartilage defects.

Source: Taipei Times February 12, 2019 15:56 UTC