Haemopoietic Progenitor Cell Framework and Programs

About haemopoietic progenitor cell transplant

People who most commonly need haemopoietic progenitor cell (HPC) treatment have a blood or immune disorder, which has seriously affected their bone marrow. They might also have had high doses of chemotherapy or irradiation. This can damage their bone marrow and prevent it working normally.

HPC cells are self-renewing and can change and mature into all blood cell types. An HPC transplant regenerates marrow and blood systems, potentially saving or extending the recipient’s life.

The patient’s condition determines the transplant method they need. It could be:

• autologous – using patients own tissue
• allogeneic – from a related donor
• allogeneic – from an unrelated donor.

Jurisdictional Haemopoietic Progenitor Cell Committee 

The Jurisdictional Haemopoietic Progenitor Cell Committee (JHPCC) is a Commonwealth-led committee, established in 2018. They provide advice and recommendations for broad haemopoietic progenitor cell (HPC) sector reform.

The JHPCC is chaired by the Australian Government, Department of Health, Disability and Ageing and includes nominated jurisdictional representatives from each state and territory government. The JHPCC is informed by clinical advice from the HPC Sector Clinical Advisory Group.

Haemopoietic Progenitor Cell Framework

Haemopoietic Progenitor Cell Programs

Haemopoietic Progenitor Cell Programs aims to improve Australians’ access to HPC transplants.

They provide important support to HPC donors and patients who need HPC treatments in Australia.

Through the HPC Programs, we improve patients’ access to HPC treatment by funding the International Searches Program (ISP) and Bone Marrow Transplant Program (BMTP).

The national HPC registry

The national registry of volunteer HPC donors is managed by the Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry (ABMDR).

We fund the ABMDR to:

• maintain the national donor registry
• coordinate national and international registry searches for a matching donor or cord blood unit for the treatment of patients
• ensure umbilical cord blood units are stored and managed appropriately.

The ABMDR has information on who is eligible to be a donor and how to become one. It also has information for patients on how to search for a donor.

International Searches Program (ISP)

The ISP provides funding for the Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry (ABMDR) to search international registries if a suitable HPC donor cannot be found in Australia.

Bone Marrow Transplant Program (BMTP)

The BMTP provides funding to cover the cost of collecting and transporting HPCs from an overseas resident donor, or the travel expenses of a related donor to come to Australia for donation.

The treating hospital must submit applications for assistance under the BMTP on the patient’s behalf. 

To be eligible for assistance, patients must meet a set of criteria, including that:

• the patient is a permanent resident of Australia
• the patient has a current Medicare card
• a suitable donor is not available in Australia
• there must be realistic prospect of success
• the treatment is expected to be life extending
• the treatment must be beyond the experimental stage and be an accepted treatment method for their condition.

For more information, please refer to the BMTP guidelines and application for funding.

Related information

Find a list of medical conditions for which HPC transplantation is a supported treatment option.

Review of the HPC sector – final report

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