MANILA: 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.
“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 organised by the Philippine Society on Stem Cell Medicine (PSSCM).
He 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.
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.
Ona expressed concern that “some facilities might not have the minimum capabilities needed to perform stem cell therapies safely and effectively.”
the Philippine star
