DOH coming out with guidelines on stem cell therapy

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Health (DOH) is coming out with guidelines for the practice of stem cell therapy in the country, Health Secretary Enrique Ona said yesterday.

Ona said they have come up with a  preliminary draft of the guidelines, which would be the subject of a public hearing tomorrow.

“After the public hearing, there might be a consensus and then it will come out. When we have the guidelines, you’ll see those things that will not be allowed,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the 1st National Convention on Stem Cell organized by the Philippine Society on Stem Cell Medicine (PSSCM).

In his speech, Ona lauded the establishment of PSSCM amid the increasing demand for the use of stem cells as therapy in oncology, end organ diseases and regenerative medicine.

“We owe it to our patients and the general public to ensure that proper information and guidance regarding this novel medical approach is available, “ he said.

Ona said the public must be apprised of the most current and accurate information about stem cells and its various applications. “We must ensure that only safe and ethical uses of stem cells are being used in the Philippines,” he said.

“Today, we see the proliferation of ‘centers’ offering stem cell treatments for medical and aesthetic purposes. Some stem cell programs here have expert personnel and clinical facilities and advanced laboratory equipment and technologies, reputed to be more advanced than other institutions abroad,” he said.

Ona expressed concern that “some facilities might not have the minimum capabilities needed to perform stem cell therapies safely and effectively.”

“Although this technology holds promise, stem cell therapy is not yet part of standard care and is considered an investigative procedure for compassionate use. Applications of stem cells for the treatment of malignancies, blood disorders, degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, metabolic diseases such as diabetes and immune cell therapy are still under clinical evaluation and study,” he added.