State Secretary Paul Blokhuis (Public Health, ChristenUnie) has withdrawn the license of the only Dutch stem cell bank, because the organization would not have things in order. He said that in a letter to the House of Representatives announced. The decision follows several visits and a report of the Health and Youth Care Inspectorate (IGJ), which saw “critical deficiencies in the quality and safety of the stem cells” and recommended that the license be revoked.
Stemcelbank Nederland, located in Leusden in Utrecht, has about 10,000 customers. They have their own stem cells, obtained from umbilical cord blood, stored at the organization for a fee. These are taken shortly after birth and sent to the stem cell bank. According to the inspection, it is not clear to the organization whether the material donated to the bank is sterile. Also, mixing of stem cells between different donors could not be ‘ruled out’. “When applied, that can cause serious harm to the patient,” according to the IGJ.
Recognition
Receiving, processing and storing human tissue requires government approval. Stem cell bank Netherlands was the only organization that had this recognition for stem cells. As a result of visits by the IGJ, the stem cell bank was not allowed to receive or process new stem cells as of April this year. However, the organization was allowed to keep already stored material for longer.
As of January 13, 2022, the full recognition will be withdrawn. From that date, Stemcelbank Nederland is also no longer allowed to store body material. The stem cell bank should approach its own customers about what to do with the leftover stem cells. According to the Inspectorate, there are ‘no regular, generally accepted, medical treatments in the Netherlands that use these stem cells’ [gewonnen uit navelstrengbloed] could be used on the donor himself”.
Joost Kartman, owner of and doctor at Stamcelbank Nederland, says he does not understand the choice of the ministry. The stem cell bank is challenging the State Secretary’s decision to withdraw recognition from the preliminary relief judge and hopes to be able to continue to store the stored stem cells after January 12.
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