Strengthening Healthcare Services (Cord Blood Banking Service) Regulations 2021 to Enhance Consumer Protection

25 Ms Hazel Poa asked the Minister for Health whether the Ministry will consider strengthening the Healthcare Services (Cord Blood Banking Service) Regulations 2021 to provide more provisions for consumer protection given the irreplaceable nature of cord blood.

Mr Ong Ye Kung: Private cord blood banking is an elective, for-profit service, where parents pay to store their child’s cord blood for potential future use. There have been 14 withdrawals for transplants since the establishment of cord blood banking services in 2001.

The Healthcare Services (Cord Blood Banking Service) Regulations 2021 set licensing requirements for cord blood banks in the collection, handling, processing, storage and distribution of cord blood. The requirements are aimed at assuring the viability of the cord blood units released for transplant purposes. The Ministry of Health will review areas to strengthen these regulations, where appropriate, arising from the Cordlife incident.