Health Ministry encourages development of safe stem cell therapy
The Director of Referral Health Service Development at the Ministry of Health, dr. Yanti Herman, MH.Kes, has encouraged the development of stem cell therapy so that it can become a safe service with real benefits for patients.
Speaking at the event “Update on Stem Cell Therapy & Its Derivatives in Indonesia” at RSCM Kencana, Jakarta, on Saturday, Yanti — whose remarks were read by the Head of the Regenerative Therapy and Medical Innovation Working Team, Sri Nuraini, S.K.M — said that modern technology is currently developing rapidly, with conventional therapy evolving into regenerative therapy that is now being widely developed by various countries.
“Stem cell therapy and its derivative products such as secretomes, exosomes, and extracellular vesicles offer hope for patients with various diseases that were previously difficult to treat, whether in orthopaedics, aesthetics, neurology, and various other fields,” said Yanti.
The Ministry of Health, Yanti continued, emphasised three points during the discussion. First, the public needs to receive correct information, especially regarding cell-based and/or stem cell therapy, which must honestly explain the proven benefits, the appropriate indications, potential risks, and the limitations of the therapy.
Second, patient safety and the legality of services must be a priority. Yanti said the public needs to ensure that therapy is carried out at healthcare facilities that have the authority in accordance with regulations.
It must also be performed by competent medical personnel, using products that meet requirements and are produced by licensed stem cell processing laboratories, and through a service and monitoring process that can be traced.
Third, innovation must be directed towards responsible and sustainable services. In this regard, the Ministry of Health, said Yanti, continues to encourage the strengthening of the ecosystem for regenerative therapy, particularly cell and/or stem cell therapy, through regulatory development.
This includes research hospitals, increasing the capacity of stem cell processing laboratories, and healthcare facilities providing therapy services. Strengthening patient outcome recording and monitoring must also be carried out.
According to her, the goal of developing stem cell therapy is not merely to introduce new technology, but to ensure that it can be translated into services that are safe, high-quality, evidence-based, and provide real benefits for patients.
Therefore, the roles of government, hospitals, researchers, health workers, industry, and the public must work together.
Furthermore, Yanti also said that the development of cell-based and/or stem cell therapy is progressing very rapidly throughout the world, while the public needs information that is correct, easy to understand, and scientifically accountable.
“Not only does RSCM play a role in providing services, but it also plays a role in building scientific evidence, developing the capacity of health workers, and encouraging the translation of research results into services that are safe and beneficial for patients,” she said.
Stem cells are known as human body cells with a special ability, namely the ability to renew themselves while also differentiating into other cell types.
Stem cell services encompass a series of medical procedures, from collection, storage, and processing to the administration of therapy from donor to recipient, whether autologous (processed from the patient’s own cells) or allogeneic (processed from a public donor) that have met quality, safety, and efficacy standards.