Stem cell therapy for knee cartilage repair is not approved as a mainstream treatment in Singapore—only allowed in research settings.
Patients like Johnny Lam, facing severe knee pain, are opting to travel to Malaysia for treatment rather than wait for knee replacement surgery.
Clinics such as ICT & SCT and Kuala Lumpur Sports Medicine Centre (KLSMC) offer stem cell therapy using either donated umbilical cord tissue or autologous stem cells (from the patient’s own body).
Treatment involves culturing stem cells and injecting them into damaged cartilage to regenerate tissue.
Several Singaporean patients reported significant improvements post-treatment, including reduced pain and restored mobility.
Costs range from RM30,000 to RM120,000 (approx. US$6,700 to US$26,800), depending on complexity and number of injections.