We break down whether Stem Cell Therapy in Hong Kong is legal, what treatment you can get & options you have if you’re open to traveling for treatment.

Is Stem Cell Therapy Legal in Hong Kong in 2025?

Yes, stem cell therapy is legal in Hong Kong but the only treatments that are approved are hematopoietic stem cell transplants for blood cancers. 

So if you’re looking for any other type of stem cell treatment for conditions like arthritis, neurological issues etc, none of these are legally available in Hong Kong.

According to the Department of Health, stem cell therapies are classified as Advanced Therapy Products (ATPs) and must be formally registered before they can be used in medical practice. At present, there are no registered ATPs containing stem cells in Hong Kong, meaning these treatments are not available for routine clinical use.

The only exceptions are established procedures such as bone marrow and cord blood transplants, which are part of standard hospital care. Any other stem cell therapy can only be provided through approved clinical trials or under specific hospital programs overseen by the Department of Health 

Best Stem Cell Therapy clinics in South East Asia

We don’t let any clinic just sign up or pay to be listed.

We speak to every clinic directly and review their medical team, the treatments they offer, how their stem cells are sourced and how they follow up with patients after treatment.

We also review licensing documents to confirm they meet the legal and medical standards of the country they operate in. For example, whether cells are processed in a GMP-certified facility or if they provide documentation on stem cell quality.

Clinics must also agree to let us collect and publish independent patient reviews. Both positive and negative.

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Who Regulates Stem Cell Therapy in Hong Kong?

Stem cell therapy in Hong Kong is overseen by several official bodies, with the Department of Health playing the lead role. Under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap. 138), the Department of Health classifies most stem cell treatments as Advanced Therapy Products (ATPs) and ensures they are registered, tested and proven safe before they can be used in medical practice.

Hong Kong’s plan to speed up stem cell therapy approvals

Hong Kong is taking steps to fast-track approvals for advanced therapies, including stem cell treatments. In the Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address, the government announced it will “improve the approval mechanism to speed up registration of new drugs, vaccines, and advanced therapy products” to give patients quicker access to innovative treatments.

This initiative includes extending the “1+1” expedited review process, originally for priority drugs to cover all Advanced Therapy Products (ATPs), which is the category stem cell therapies fall under. The government also plans to establish the Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation (HKCMPR) to strengthen regulatory oversight and accelerate approvals for advanced medicines.

For patients, this means that once stem cell therapies are proven safe and effective, the path to approval in Hong Kong will be faster.

How much does Stem Cell Therapy cost in Hong Kong?

Even though clinics can’t legally offer Stem Cell Therapy, we’ve seen a few offering treatments ranging from $11,000 – $38,000 (USD).

Factors affecting prices are condition being treated and cell volume.

How much does Stem Cell Therapy cost across India & South East Asia

Stem Cell treatment costs in India start at $3,500 and across South East Asia go up to $35,000.  As an average rule of thumb, anti aging & orthopaedic treatments are generally cheaper than neurologies & auto Immune disease treatments.

We’ve broken down the costs in each region below and we also have in depth cost guides on each country:

What countries can I get Stem Cell Therapy in?

If you’re in Hong Kong, other options for you include Japan, South Korea, India & Thailand. If you’re open to traveling further you also have Colombia, Panama & Dubai too.

But not all treatments in these countries are the same. For example regulations are much tighter when it comes to regulation, to offer certain treatments you have to be a government approved facility. Whereas in Thailand & Colombia for example, regulations are a lot looser, but costs are also cheaper.

Is India better than Japan or Thailand for Stem Cell Therapy?

India is cheaper than Japan & Thailand, but that doesn’t mean it’s better. We’ve broken down some of the key differences between India & other countries in South East Asia & South America for you here:

Also, some countries are allowed to culture or grow stem cells in a lab to offer you higher dosage treatments and others aren’t:

If you’re looking into other countries, our article on Best countries for Stem Cell therapy breaks down all the options globally for you.

Do I need a visa to get Stem Cell Therapy if I’m from Hong Kong?

No, if you’re a Hong Kong resident, for most of these countries you won’t need a Visa. This table goes into more detail and gives you reading material to help with what you need. If you click on the text in the sources column, this will direct you to official sources.

So, can I get Stem Cell Therapy in Hong Kong?

No, you can’t get Stem cell Therapy in Hong Kong, unless you’re going for hematopoietic stem cell transplants for blood cancer.

Unfortunately if you live in Hong Kong & definitely want to get Stem Cell Therapy, you’re going to need to travel. The good news is, you have a lot of options on your doorstep with Japan, South Korea etc.

If you want to discuss options in different countries, fill out our form below & our team will reach out to answer any questions you have & direct you to pre-vetted clinics if needed.