Palace warns public on stem cell treatment

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang reminded the public yesterday that medicine has no “cure-all” process following reports that people were being lured into getting stem cell therapy for regeneration and to treat all their ailments.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Department of Health (DOH) will release an administrative order on stem cell treatments to protect the public.

“Let me repeat, it’s the hospital that must be accredited, not the doctor,” she said. “Not the individual. Those stand-alone clinics, they cannot get accreditation from the DOH. So that is our warning to our fellowmen.”  

Valte said the DOH will accredit hospitals performing stem cell therapy, and on Aug. 31, hospitals must file accreditation requirements for them to continue offering the treatment. 

“The so-called ‘cure all’ is fake,” she said. “There is no treatment that will cure all of your ills.”

Valte said the DOH has prohibited stem cell treatment from embryo and plant products; restricted those from humans but would entail genetic manipulation to be cleared by the Food and Drug Administration; and those allowed coming from the person to be treated, or from donors.

The public must report clinics violating DOH rules and these could be shut down and penalized, she added.

Valte said the licenses of medical practitioners could be suspended if they would engage in stem cell treatment illegally. 

“Let us not be fooled,” she said. “Only hospitals can facilitate stem cell treatments.” 

The DOH had been disseminating information to guide the public, especially since some clinics were offering stem cell treatment “for skin rejuvenation to make you look younger,” Valte said. 

The Philippine Medical Association (PMA) is investigating the reported deaths of three politicians allegedly after undergoing stem cell treatment in Germany.

Stem cells from animals are dangerous and Filipinos must not go abroad for this kind of stem cell therapy, the PMA added.

Dangerous Drugs Board chairman Antonio Villar said he was enticed to try the procedure after hearing from other people about the near-miraculous effect of stem cell therapy. He paid 16,000 euros or more than P900,000 for stem cell therapy to cure aches and pains in his bones and general body weakness, he added.

Villar said he underwent treatment with his wife at a hotel in Makati, along with at least a dozen others. He did not feel any health benefits after the process, he added.