Taiwan's health ministry to greenlight cell therapies for two hospitals

Shin Kong International HealthCare Center in Taipei is likely to be approved for non-cancer related cell therapy.

Taiwan's Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) said it might soon issue approval for another two hospitals in Taiwan to offer cell therapies, as part of the country's efforts to excel in that area of treatment, the country's news agency reports.

Shin Kong International HealthCare Center in Taipei, one of the two hospitals, is likely to be approved for non-cancer related cell therapy, which would be a first in Taiwan. The other health facility was not named.

Currently, Tri-Service General Hospital and China Medical University Hospital are the only two health establishments in Taiwan allowed to provide cell therapies to patients, but only for cancer-related conditions.

Cell therapies for blood cancers, strokes, and degenerative joint diseases, amongst other conditions, are permitted in Taiwan. Since then, 26 hospitals and clinics have applied for permission to provide cell therapy, mainly for the treatment of cancer, degenerative joint diseases and skin problems, according to MOHW statistics.