MANILA, Philippines --- House Speaker Feliciano ''Sonny'' Belmonte Jr. expressed the readiness of the incoming 16th Congress to pass a measure that would regulate the practice of stem cell and cell-based therapy in the country to ensure public safety and to ward off any potential medical malpractice.
He made the statement after the Department of Health (DOH) is bent to launch a crackdown on spas and salons offering such therapy. Under its new guidelines, healthcare facilities need to get DOH accreditation before it continues to practice stem cell therapy.
''The DOH can regulate it. If a law is needed, we can enact one,'' Belmonte said.
You Against Corruption and Poverty (YACAP) Party-list Representative Carol Jayne Lopez cited the need for Congress to enact a ''law that will regulate matters or issues relating to stem cell therapy, especially as it should carry penal causes, just like what we proposed on living organ donation-which institutions, who can perform, procedure to be undertaken and protection to patients can be addressed in the law.''
Quezon City Representative Winston ''Winnie'' Castelo said the new law would give the DoH more ''active regulatory role'' in regulating the practice of stem cell therapy.
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Public safety