DOH to regulate stem cell therapy in PH

By LizaAVILA

Published on 10 November 2012 Hits: 58 Written by Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday said that it has become necessary to issue regulations for stem cell therapy in the country. Health Secretary Enrique Ona said that guidelines for clinics offering stem cell therapy will be released immediately by the DOH and the Food and Drug Administration.

We will issue guidelines because here in the country we dont know where the stem cell offered by clinics come from, he said.

According to the DOH, stem cell therapy belongs to the category of advanced cell therapy, which includes biologics and blood. Many countries apply a risk-based approach to assess the quality, efficacy and safety of advanced cell therapy.

In many countries, stem cell is considered an investigational intervention, Ona said.

The DOH said that stem cell research employs both autologous (from same person) or allogenic (from another organism like an animal or another human cell or tissue sample) method.

Ona said that because there are many steps in the preparation of this lab and invasive procedure, there is a need to have a regulatory framework to protect Filipino citizens.