The Antigua and Barbuda government is seeking to capitalize on the growing popularity of stem cell therapy to treat a wide variety of medical conditions.
This comes as it was brought to the attention of the Cabinet that large numbers of persons travel the world for wellness purposes and in search of stem cell therapy and this that development could form the backbone of health and country.
A Cabinet spokesman said that as part of its strategic efforts to develop the Wellness Tourism sector, the Cabinet took a policy decision to initiate the process for the manufacturing of stem cells within the country. The Attorney General, Sir Steadroy Benjamin, has been tasked with reviewing and proposing legislation to create an enabling legal framework for this emerging biotechnology sector.
The Cabinet emphasized that any stem cell manufacturing conducted in Antigua and Barbuda will be done strictly using ethical and humane methods, specifically utilizing umbilical cord blood stem cells (UCBSCs). The Cabinet also acknowledged the increasing number of individuals who travel to Antigua and Barbuda seeking stem cell treatment and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting this sector—strictly within the parameters of national law.
The spokesman said the stem cell treatment that draws persons to the country are a source of revenue for the government as these services attract ABST which goes to the Inland Revenue Department.
It has been noted that stem cell manufacturing refers to the process of producing, expanding, and preparing stem cells in controlled laboratory or industrial settings for use in research, diagnostics, or therapeutic applications. It involves several steps to ensure that the stem cells are safe, potent, pure, and scalable for clinical or commercial use.
