The Minister of Health, Chairman of the Health Services Council, Dr. Hamad bin Abdullah Al-Mane issued a decree whereby a national committee to be formed for supervising the banks of stem cells taken from umbilical cord blood. Dr. Osman Al-Rabia, Consultant of the Minister of Health and coordinator of the works of the Health Services Council, said the new council has been formed as per the recommendations of the Stem Cell Banks Project Search Committee formed by the Health Services Council for organizing and supervising the works of the National Network of Stem Cell Banks through issuing licenses for establishing stem cell banks and confirming license applicants observe the standards and controls adopted by the committee.
According to Al-Rabia, the committee recommended the procedures and standards applied by the banks must be in conformity with locally approved and internationally recognized regulations and instructions. The committee defined four aspects through which the extent of conformity with such regulations and instructions must be measured. The ethical aspect includes all ethical standards pertaining to the formula of donating umbilical cord blood, the person who is authorized for approval, the periods required for keeping donated blood, the ethics of scientific research, the procedures of dealing with the applications of using blood samples for treatment, privacy of information relative to sample owners, and the procedures and controls of eliminating samples. The technical aspect involves the standards relative to the methods followed for processing, keeping, and storing umbilical cord blood, as well as the measures adopted for approving workers at blood banks. The medical aspect involves the controls of using stem cells for internationally allowed medical purposes such as the cases of leukemia, hereditary blood diseases, etc. It also involves adopting a suitable mechanism for updating works in accordance with the latest developments in the medical field. The administrative aspect includes the controls of granting licenses, monitoring umbilical cord blood banks, and confirming employment requirements.
Al-Rabia said Dr. Ali Al-Shingiti from the Ministry of Health has been appointed as chairman of the committee. Members include Dr. Abdul Aziz Al-Suwailim from King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology, Dr. Munir Abbas from the Council of Chambers of Commerce, Dr. Basim Al-Bairuti from King Abdul Aziz University, Dr. Ahmed Al-Saghir from King Saud University, Dr. Mohammed Al-Juma and Dr. Ahmed Al-Askar from the National Guard Health Affairs, Dr. Hissah Al-Dahami from MOD Medical Services, Dr. Aida Al-Aqil from the Armed Forces Medical Services, Dr. Hind Al-Humaidan and Dr. Amal Al-Sirahi from King Faisal Specialized Hospital, Dr. Abdul Mohsen Al-Rihaimi from the General Authority of Foods and Drugs, and Ibrahim Al-Omar from the Ministry of Health.