1st cell therapy center in eastern Taiwan inaugurated

Taipei, Sept. 9 (CNA) A cell therapy center opened Monday at a general hospital in Hualien County, the first of its kind in eastern Taiwan, although in the western part of the country there are two institutes specialized in this type of advanced treatment for cancer patients.

In collaboration with the New Taipei-based Taiwan Advance Bio-Pharmaceutical Inc. (TABP), Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital opened the Cell Therapy Center following approval from the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

The inauguration of the center reflects a balance of medical resources in the western and less-developed eastern areas of the island, according to the government officials who attended the event, including Shih Chung-liang (石崇良), director-general of the Health Ministry's Department of Medical Affairs.

The new facility will admit patients with 4th-stage lung cancer, esophagus cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, liver cancer, brain tumor and renal cancer, giving them treatment using self- produced immune cells, according to a statement released by the TABP.