In an effort to regulate cord blood and stem cell centres, the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs and Future has passed new regulations that legislate and improve services provided by stem cell providers in the UAE. The new regulatory framework signed by the Secretary General of the Cabinet has been set to avoid malpractice within a legislative framework and enhance the public health of the community.
CellSave Arabia was inaugurated in 2006 by the UAE Minister of Health as the first private stem cell facility in the region and has since become an internationally recognised and accredited facility servicing the region. After the implementation of the new regulations, CellSave Arabia was given the first Health Facility License by DHA under the facility category of Cord Blood and Stem Cell Center.
“We have over the past 15 years ensured that our facilities in the UAE are at the forefront on the latest innovating stem cell technologies but more importantly adhere to the most stringent quality standards in our industry,” said Sarah Al-Hajali, CEO of the stem cell laboratory. “We welcome the initiatives that the UAE’s regulators have taken to implement a legislative framework regulating the stem cell industry to protect the UAE community in need of different stem cell services.”
“Receiving the first DHA license as a Cord Blood and Stem Cell Center in the UAE demonstrates our success thus far and commitment to quality, compliance, and excellence”, added Alia Abdel Razeq, COO of CellSave Arabia. “Cord blood banking is a rapidly growing field in our region and the UAE community has access to both private stem cell preservation through CellSave and public donation options with DCRC.”
More about cord blood banking
For over 30 years, cord blood stem cells have been used in medical transplants for more than 80 conditions, including blood disorders, cancers, metabolic disorders, to rebuild the blood and immune system. Today there are also over 100 ongoing studies worldwide that investigate cord blood stem cells value in regenerative medicine, in areas such as cardiovascular, neurological, autoimmune and tissue or organ damage.
Stem cells from the umbilical cord, tissue and placenta can be collected after birth and stored cryogenically in a licensed laboratory for over 30 years. CellSave Arabia has released stem cell samples from many of their families from the region for a wide range of transplants including beta-thalassemia, sickle cell anemia, cancers, and regenerative clinical trials such as cerebral palsy and autism.
Any companies carrying out activities related to cord blood or stem cells need to be licensed as a health facility under the DHA in Dubai and under DOH in Abu Dhabi and will not be able to operate only under marketing licenses.
