Stem cell therapy for autism restricted in India: What parents must know

The Union Health Ministry has issued a fresh advisory restricting stem cell therapy to approved medical conditions. Stem cell treatment for autism can be used only in authorised clinical trials, with doctors and hospitals facing action for violations.

The Union Health Ministry has issued a fresh advisory on stem cell therapy in India, making it clear that hospitals and doctors can offer the treatment as routine medical care only for conditions approved by the government. The advisory, dated September 16, 2026, aims to stop clinics from offering unproven stem cell treatments to patients, including children diagnosed with autism.

The advisory follows a Supreme Court judgment delivered on January 30, 2026, in the Yash Charitable Trust versus Union of India case. The Ministry has asked states and Union Territories that have adopted the Clinical Establishments Act, 2010, to communicate the court’s directions to........

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