Ministry of Health requests urgent review of CAR-T cell therapy for blood cancer

(Dan Tri) - The Ministry of Health requested the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health to urgently review, inspect and report information on the legality of CAR-T cell therapy used by hospitals to treat leukemia patients.

On September 19, the Department of Science, Technology and Training (KHCN&DT, Ministry of Health ) issued an official dispatch to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, requesting a report on the content of patients successfully applying CAR-T cell therapy that has been spread recently.

Accordingly, the Department of Science, Technology and Investment said it had received information from the media about a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City sharing information about the first case in Vietnam successfully applying CAR-T cell therapy, bringing hope to many children with blood malignancies.

The hospital informed that a 12-year-old girl was treated for leukemia using CAR-T cell therapy (Photo: Hospital).

According to the above agency, the application of cells and cell products, including stem cells, in disease prevention and treatment requires scientific evidence of the safety and effectiveness of the method.

At the same time, this must comply with the provisions of the current Law on Medical Examination and Treatment, Circular No. 32/2023/TT-BYT dated December 31, 2023 of the Minister of Health and Decree No. 96/2023/ND-CP of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of a number of articles of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment.

To ensure the rights and safety of patients in Vietnam and compliance with current relevant laws, the Department of Science, Technology and Investment requests the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health to urgently review and check the information provided by hospitals about the use of CAR-T cell therapy by patients in Vietnam.

Specifically, check the legality of the CAR-T cell therapy that the patient has used, including: whether the therapy has been licensed for application in medical examination and treatment; the protocols and procedures at the hospital for patients using CAR-T cell therapy.

A hospital in Ho Chi Minh City said it has coordinated with a hospital in Taipei, China, to treat patients with CAR-T cells.

In addition, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health is also required to review the regulations for controlling and approving the content of information provided about CAR-T cell therapy of hospitals, to ensure that the information is complete and accurate.

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health must report the above contents to the Ministry of Health (Department of Science, Technology and Investment, Department of Legal Affairs, Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management) before September 25, as a basis for reporting to the Ministry's leaders.

Previously, according to information recorded by Dan Tri reporters, from 2024, the final hematology hospital in Ho Chi Minh City has sent doctors and technicians to study cell therapy (CAR-T cell) abroad.

This place also cooperates with a hospital in Taipei, China to treat CAR-T cell patients with recurrent B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and diffuse large cell lymphoma.

Among them, a 12-year-old girl is said to be the first Vietnamese patient to be successfully treated with CAR-T cell method.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/bo-y-te-yeu-cau-khan-truong-ra-soat-lieu-phap-car-t-cell-tri-ung-thu-mau-20250919125418548.htm