No Stem Cell Service Standards Yet
Stem cell therapy cannot be conducted arbitrarily. At present, its use is limited to research on therapeutic services.
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Research and development of stem cells and cancer at the Stem Cell & Cancer Institute laboratory of PT Kalbe Farma in Pulomas, Jakarta, Friday (9/9/2016).
JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Stem cell treatment has the potential for use in regenerative therapy. In a number of studies, this therapy has indicated promising results. However, because stem cells therapy is only in its research phase, there is no standardized service yet for this treatment.
According to Indonesian Stem Cell Association (ASPI) chairman Rahyussalim, the government had not yet determined the standards for the stem cell therapeutic services so it cannot yet be provided in Indonesia. Therefore, it cannot be conducted arbitrarily in multiple centers and is limited to use in research on therapeutic services.
“Stem cell research and development should be intensified so that later stem-cell-based products will be legal and can be mass produced. Stem cell therapy is also expected to become standardized in Indonesia,” said Rahyussalim in the Collaborative Seminar and Workshop Series BRIN-ASPI 2023 at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Jakarta, on Friday (13/1/2023).
With reference to Health Minister Regulation No.3/2018 on the provision of stem cell and cell services, a standardized therapeutic service can be provided in primary hospitals and clinics that fulfill government policy requirements.
Stem cells can be derived from bone marrow, periphery blood, umbilical cord blood, umbilical cords as well as fat and skin tissues.
Two hospitals, Cipto Mangunkusumo National General Hospital (RSUPN), Jakarta and Dr Soetomo Regional General Hospital, Surabaya, have been designated as stem cell development centers.
Meanwhile, the upgraded hospitals already selected are Djamil Padang Central General Hospital (RSUP), Harapan Kita Cardiovascular Hospital Jakarta, RSUP Hasan Sadikin Bandung, RSUP Sardjito Yogyakarta and RSUP Fatmawati Jakarta.
The other upgraded hospitals are Dharmais Cancer Hospital Jakarta, RSUP Kariadi Semarang, RSUP Sanglah Denpasar and RSUP Persahabatan Jakarta.
Stem cell therapy is a treatment for the regeneration of cells that can later develop and adapt themselves to become other cells as needed by patients. Stem cells can be derived from bone marrow, periphery blood, umbilical cord blood, umbilical cords as well as fat and skin tissues.
According to Rahyussalim, various illnesses can be cured with stem cell therapy, including failed bone fractures, child paralysis, osteoarthritis, diabetes mellitus, burn injuries and heart disease.
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Stem cell research in the laboratory of the Integrated Stem Cell Medical Technology Service Unit RSCM-FKUI, Jakarta, Thursday (8/9/2016).
Nevertheless, stem cell therapy development in Indonesia still faces constraints, like the absence of service standards for the medical handling of all types of degenerative disease. For example, stem cell therapy to treat osteoporosis is not yet standardized today.
Stem cells are still only used for research, so patients who receive this treatment are subjects of research.
“We want to get recognition from the government, such as the standardization of stem cell therapy to handle backbone disorders. In this way, doctors can promptly perform stem cell therapy on their patients,” he said.
Support needed
Rahyussalim added that it required collaboration and coordination between stakeholders, including the government, researchers and industries, to strengthen stem cell research in Indonesia to benefit the health sector.
For the intensification of stem cell research in Indonesia, many more stem cell researchers are needed, both individuals as well as groups, to undertake basic clinical research. Besides this, government support in the form of regulations to facilitate stem cell research and services are required.
In the meantime, BRIN’s Vaccine and Drug Research Center head Masteria Yunovilsa Putra indicated that with the high interest among stem cell researchers, cooperation between several parties should be enhanced to properly integrate the work. Stem cell research has long been conducted and developed by BRIN researchers.
“Stem cell development in Indonesia has encountered many challenges, among the problem is that stem cell research is still done individually. With this research, an exchange and dissemination of information and ideas is needed to be organized to support stem cell research in Indonesia,” he said.
The goal is to secure government recognition of stem cell therapy.
Masteria revealed that BRIN researchers in the course of their research had produced publications and patents. One of these research projects was the alginate-based microencapsulation technology that can maintain the viability of mesenkim stem cells, published in the Journal of Stem Cell Research & Therapy and Galenika Journal of Pharmacy. The application of this research can be used for the therapy of chronic injuries.
BRIN’s Health Research Organization head Indi Dharmayanti said technology, research and science would keep advancing and growing rapidly with the lapse of time. In this case, BRIN plays its part in organizing researchers in their work and collaboration to support the progress of the research, especially in the development of stem cell products.
“We want this collaboration to be able to integrate different parties conducting stem cell research so that they can make further headway in their research,” said Indi.
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Rahyussalim added that stem cell therapy would also be a solution when the disease handled could not be cured with commercial treatment. This was because its main role was to regenerate aged cell structures.
“The goal is to secure government recognition of stem cell therapy. This collaboration between BRIN and ASPI can serve as a forum for discussion, the sharing of information and ideas connected with stem cells and their derivatives,” said Rahyussalim.
This article was translated by Aris Prawira.
