MALACAANG warned Friday the public from seeking stem cell therapy following the complaint by a government official of feeling weaker after undergoing this kind of treatment. In a press briefing, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said that the Department of Health (DOH) will issue an administrative order regarding the stem cell treatments in the country. "The DOH received several reports regarding the stand-alone clinics which are offering (stem cell therapies) for skin rejuvenation to make you look younger. That's why the DOH has already acted on it. It just happened that there was an incident that was highlighted," she said. Dangerous Drugs Board chairman Antonio Villar has admitted of undergoing recently stem cell therapy in an upscale hotel in Makati City in the hope to cure bone pains. He claimed of spending around P900,000 for the treatment. But he said he only felt weaker after the therapy. Valte said that the public should be aware that stem cell therapies are only being undertaken in the DOH-accredited hospitals and not in any hotel or stand-alone clinics. She also said that those being accredited are the hospitals and not the doctors. "Come August 31, hospitals should file their accreditation requirements for them … Continue reading →

By Michael Lim Ubac Philippine Daily Inquirer Hospitals offering stem cell therapy have until Aug. 31 to seek or renew their accreditation from the Department of Health (DOH), a Palace official said Friday. For the information of the public, the DOH is accrediting hospitals for this kind of treatment, and come Aug. 31, these hospitals should file their accreditation requirements (with DOH) for them to continue to offer this treatment, said deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte. The government is eyeing stricter regulation of hospitals offering stem cell therapy amid speculations that the recent deaths of three politicians were due to the xenogenic (animal-based stem cell) treatment they had received in Germany last year. Dr. Leo Olarte, president of the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) and spokesperson of the Philippine Society for Stem Cell Medicine, said the groups were still trying to determine whether the politicians had died due to their illness or due to hypersensitivity reaction from the xenogenic stem cells. Last week, the PMA also warned of a possible scam involving German doctors coming over to perform stem cell therapy on patients in five-star hotels at around P1 million per shot. Valte echoed a similar warning from the DOH against … Continue reading →