What are stem cells?
Stem cells are the foundation cells of the human body. Though in embryos they can’t be differentiated, they later develop into specialised cells with specific functions, such as a heart cell or a nerve cell. They have the quality of being self-sustaining and able toreplicate themselves—which makes them full of promise for revolutionary advances in medical science.
Where it has shown results
Clinical trials are taking place in many hospitals in India, using stem cells to treat diseases such as Parkinson's, spinal cord injuries, heart ailments, stroke, burns, many types of cancer, and specific kinds of blindness. In all these, there have been cases where stem cell therapy has shown remarkable results. The biggest success story so far has been in rebuilding the outer layer of the cornea with stem cells to restore eyesight of patients.
What does it cost?
On an average, stem cell therapy currently costs from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakh. For cornea treatment it is Rs 1.5 lakh.
