With a view to protection the public’s rights, the MOHW announced the launch of the new “Cell Therapy Information Page”, which provides the public with comprehensive and accurate information on cell therapies.
Since the implementation of the special regulations in September 2018 which allow qualified hospitals to perform six types of cell therapies, including autoimmune cell therapy, autologous adipose stem cell therapy, autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell therapy, autologous fibroblast therapy and autologous chondrocyte therapy, the MOHW has received 147 applications of cell therapy treatment projects and approved 46 to be carried out in 24 hospitals.
In order to help the public understand cell therapies and to disclose the information on approved treatment projects, the Information Page publishes the name of qualified hospitals, approved treatment items, applicable indications, fees and payment methods, and a list of the GTP certified cell-processing laboratories.
The Information Page also provides relevant health education materials and an on-line reporting facility. Patients could search on the Page for qualified hospitals and report inaccurate advertisement or illegal treatments.
The new Information Page has three sections: “About Cell Therapy”, “Access to Cell Therapy” and “Reporting”. The public could search the information about approved cell therapy treatment projects using various criteria, such as diseases, regions, fees, or the size of hospitals.
The Information Page also links to the CDE’s “Drug Clinical Trial Information Page” so that patients could find out relevant clinical trial projects and may consider taking part.
The section of “About Cell Therapy” offers health education materials written by experts to deliver accurate knowledge about cell therapies and to help smooth the communication between patients and doctors. .
The MOHW stressed that cell therapies are not a panacea for cancers. Patients need to consult with their doctors and should report to the MOHW about any unauthorized providers of cell therapies or misleading advertisement by using the link on the Information Page.
【2020-08-18 / Economic Daily】
