Stem Cell Therapy in India : A Comprehensive Overview 

In the world, where ailments are emerging as mushrooms and the medical science’s efforts and research are trying hard to curb them, there’s emerging a line of advanced and alternate therapy options. Stem Cell therapy is one such alternate medicine that is gaining popularity across the world. This is happening because of the basis of initial research findings, the therapy has potential to treat a vast range of diseases including autoimmune diseases to degenerative conditions. With India’s medical research system advancing, the country also is seeing advancement in the research and trials of stem cell therapy as well. 

India offers cutting edge medical facilities for clinical trials of stem cell treatments, as well as provides advanced research benefits. Patients from all over the world are choosing India to get high-quality treatment support. The best part is that India has relatively lower cost as compared to the western countries offering the same level of facilities at a higher cost. At present, India is a hub for advanced therapies, treatments and medical research advancements. This article explores more about stem cell therapy in the context of Indian medical facilities. 

Know more about Stem Cell Therapy?

Stem cells are known as the key building blocks in the human body. These cells have the capacity to differentiate into various types of cells including muscle cells, bones and nerve cells. Their ability to differentiate makes them a unique treatment option for various serious health conditions and degenerative disorders. Stem cells in the treatment process are being used as the alternative method, where healthy cells replace the damaged cells, tissues and organs in the human body.

Stem cells can be divided into 2 types: embryonic stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). The embryonic stem cells are under the research stage at present. On the other hand, the mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are already being used in different types of treatments. These cells can be derived from various sources including one marrow, adipose tissue, and umbilical cord.

Status of Stem Cell Therapy Treatments in India

In India, the stem cell therapy is under clinical trial and the research is ongoing. For several types of ailments, stem cell therapy is approved as an absolute treatment. For the rest, the medical authorities have set up strict guidelines. All the clinical trials holding hospitals and research centers need to adhere to the government’s guidelines to ensure ethical implementation of the stem cell treatment for the benefit of the patients. 

What All Health Conditions are Treated Using Stem Cell Therapy

Stem cell therapy trials have helped several patients from India and abroad through the effective treatment results. However, more data is required to reach the long term analysis of the potential treatment, but at present, Stem Cell therapy in India is used for treating the following types of ailments:

• Stem cell therapy helps in handling the serious medical conditions which are caused by the body’s autoimmune response. These disorders mainly include rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and multiple sclerosis. This therapy has the potential to heal the damaged tissues, minimizing inflammation and help with improved mobility of the joints. 

• The stem cell therapy treatment is also being used for various kinds of degenerative ailments such as osteoarthritis, muscular dystrophy, and Parkinson’s disease. This is possible by regenerating the cells that have been damaged by the disease and help restore the normal function of the body.
• Various types of neurological ailments are also healed and treated with the help of stem cell therapy. Stem cell therapy is proving to be very effective in the treatment of diseases like ALS, Alzheimer’s, and spinal cord injuries.
• Various chronic conditions such as pain in the back, diabetes and cardiac ailments are also treated using stem cell therapy.
• Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is considered a very effective form of stem cell therapy to treat various types of cancer. This helps in increasing and improving the body’s ability to produce blood. 

Advantages of Opting for Stem Cell Therapy Treatment in India

India is turning into a preferred hub for national as well as international patients to access stem cell therapy treatments for various types of ailments. This is happening because of the following advantages it has associated with it. 

• Cost is one of the key factors for increasing popularity of India as the hub for stem cell therapy trials. The country offers advanced level medical trials and treatments using stem cells at comparatively low cost. 
• The country has advanced medical and research infrastructure, making it very easy to provide world-class stem cell therapy treatments, without causing a hole in the pocket of the patient. 
• The country has trained and efficient medical staff and medical care experts, offering their knowledge, expertise and services to the patients from India and abroad. 
• Stem cells are vastly available in the country, specially in its metro cities. The advanced hospitals and clinics here offer top-notch stem cell treatments.

Cost of Stem Cell Therapy in India

The stem cell therapy cost in India varies on several factors such as type of ailment and type of treatment required, infrastructural cost factors, age of the patient and several other aspects. In India, the treatment still is relatively cheaper as compared to western countries. For example in the US or Europe it can cost anywhere between $10,000 and $30,000 per treatment, whereas the cost ranges between $2,000 to $5,000.

Process of Getting Stem Cell Treatment in India

The patients undergoing the stem cell therapy treatment in India need to go through the following key steps:

• Understanding the medical authorities regulation and opting for clinics/hospitals/stem cell research centers adhering to the norms effectively.
• Initial consultation and diagnosis to understand the seriousness of the ailment and consider stem cell therapy as a possible option.
• If the option of stem cell therapy is suitable, then the process of documentation begins.
• After due diligence, stem cell harvesting begins, where the stem cells are taken from a patient’s own body or a donor’s body. 
• After extraction, these cells are processed in the lab to prepare them to treat the patient. 
• Ingestion of stem cells in the patient’s body to begin the healing process. 
• Once the stem cells are ingested, follow up care and monitoring is done to ensure there are no serious side effects.

After completing these steps effectively, the patients need to visit the clinics for the scheduled follow up visits to track the progress and address challenges if any. 

To summerize, stem cell therapy is a promising avenue and it is making major growth in India. To ensure regulation of the treatment process and transparency in research the norms set by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) are to be followed. Patients looking for high quality stem cell treatments and trials at a minimal cost, can opt for this option.