JEDDAH, 24 June 2007 — Saudi Minister of Health and Chairman of the Health Services Council Dr. Hamad Al-Manie has called for the formation of a national committee to supervise banks containing stem cells taken from umbilical cords.
“The issue of stem cells is a sensitive one. Stem cells need to be delicately preserved and specialists need to be careful in knowing when to use them,” said Dr. Osman Al-Rabia, consultant to the minister of health and coordinator of the Health Services Council.
Al-Rabia said the committee — “The National Network of Stem Cell Banks” — has made a list of recommendations about the procedures and standards to be applied by stem cell banks. The committee has identified four aspects — the ethical, technical, medical and administrative aspects — by which concerned regulations and instructions can be measured.
The ethical aspect concerns standards relating to donating umbilical cord blood.
The technical aspect involves standards relating to the processing, keeping, and storing of umbilical cord blood, as well as the measures adopted in screening potential employees at blood banks.
The medical aspect involves the controls of using stem cells for internationally allowed medical purposes, such as the treatment of leukemia and hereditary blood diseases.
It also involves adopting a suitable mechanism for updating works in accordance with the latest developments in the medical field.
The administrative aspect includes the controls of granting licenses, monitoring umbilical cord blood banks, and confirming employment requirements.
The King Faisal Specialist Hospital of Riyadh stores stem cells, which are imported from abroad and are costly.
“When establishing stem cells banks in local hospitals, there will be local sources for the cells, which will be available when needed,” said Al-Rabia.
Stem cells can divide without a limit and replenish cells as long as the person is alive. They work as a repair system for the body.
