Spain to authorise umbilical cord stem cell banks

Spain to authorise umbilical cord stem cell banks
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By h.b. - Mar 8, 2006 - 2:09 PM

Spanish Minister for Health, Elenor Salgado - Photo EFE

Spain to authorise umbilical cord stem cell banks

The Ministry for Health in Spain has announced that it will shortly be authorising the opening of private banks for umbilical cord stem cells.

The subject has been in the news here ever since it was revealed that the Prince and Princess of Asturias have sent blood from the umbilical cord of the Infanta Elenor to a private company in the United States where it will be kept on ice, in case needed in the event of future illness.

The average man or woman in the street it seems does not quite understand the technology here, but the Socialist government seems keen that the benefits be open to all, and not just the royals.

A new bio-ethics committee is to be established to control what are described as the ‘strict conditions’ that will have to be observed in the new private centres.

Elena Salgado had a choice as to how the centres would be allowed to behave in Spain. She has rejected the idea that the act, simply on a commercial basis for one particular client, as seen in the United States, but has opted instead forcing then to act as part of the National Transplant Organisation (ONT) which would give access to the material and indeed force the company to donate it should a compatible recipient be found.

The technology is advancing, but we know already that a transplant of such stem cells can help considerably in the treatment of illnesses such as leukaemia and other blood disorders. Currently the cells can be stored for a 15 year maximum term, but as we learn to extend that we may well also find the answer to conditions such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

How important donating the umbilical cord from a baby born today will become in the future depends greatly on the progress of current research.

In Spain 450,000 babies are born each year, and probably no more than 20,000 umbilical cords will be stored initially, but perhaps the reasons are there for this number to be increased as soon as possible.

The Catholic Church is against stem-cell research because it says it involves the destruction of human embryos. Pope John Paul II said embryonic stem-cell research is related to abortion, euthanasia and other attacks on innocent life. However stem cells can be obtained from other sources, such as umbilical cords, and this difference is one which the perhaps the church has to highlight better in Spain.

21 other countries of the European Union already have authorised the existence of such stem cell banks.

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