SINGAPORE: Significant Development for Cordlife

In a significant development, Cordlife has successfully renewed its licenses for cord blood and human tissue banking for another year, as confirmed by the company on January 14.

MOH Approval and Compliance Commitment

The renewal comes after the Ministry of Health (MOH) notified Cordlife that the director-general of health has approved the extension from January 14 onwards. The company expressed its dedication to adhering to regulatory requirements and compliance measures, stating, "The company is committed to meeting all applicable regulatory requirements and compliance measures before considering the full resumption of operations in Singapore."

Scrutiny Following Past Mishandling Issues

However, despite the renewed licenses, Cordlife faces scrutiny due to prior mishandling issues that were highlighted in November 2023. An investigation by the MOH revealed that seven storage tanks exceeded safe temperature limits, resulting in approximately 2,200 cord blood units being damaged. This incident affected at least 2,150 clients and raised concerns regarding the company's operational practices.

Additional Incidents and Limited Operations