The
Department of Health (DOH) XI is set to conduct a surveillance of all
establishments in the Davao Region that are offering stem cell treatments
without the proper authorization.
“At
present there are no facilities in the Region that have been authorized by DOH
to perform stem cell treatments,” DOH XI Licensing Officer Alex F. Daba said
during Monday’s regular Kapihan held at SM City Annex.
The
move is in accordance with Administrative Order 2013-0012 providing the Rules
and Regulations Governing the Accreditation of Health Facilities Engaging in
Human Stem Cell and Cell-Based or Cellular Therapies in the Philippines which
was released by Health Secretary Enrique T. Ona on March 18, 2013. However, the
AO becomes effective only 15 days after its approval and publication.
“As
with any new technology there is a need to regulate stem cell treatment in
order to protect the public from unscrupulous people who might not be properly
trained and authorized to conduct the procedure,” he said.
Secretary
Ona’s AO indicated that stem cell-based therapies have existed for the past four
decades and some have been proven to be effective in some medical conditions.
“Stem cells that come from the bone marrow or blood gave already been routinely
used in transplant procedures to treat patients with cancer and other disorders
of the blood and immune system,” the AO said.
The
AO was issued after a survey conducted by DOH-Bureau of Health Facilities and
Services (BHFS) that five hospitals and some ambulatory clinics were providing
stem cell services to patients for various indications.
Mr.
Daba said they have received reports that even here in the Region, there are
facilities including hospitals and clinics conducting the stem cell therapy.
However, he added, they still have to verify those reports through the conduct
of the surveillance.
“As
of now all we can do is to comply with the surveillance and then create a
Master List of these facilities,” he said. They are set to meet with the
different hospitals and clinics in Davao next week to inform these facilities
about the new guidelines so that they will discontinue providing the said
treatments.
With
the issuance of Secretary Ona’s order, he said, all the unauthorized facilities
providing stem cell treatment are unauthorized and should be advised to stop.
“The
primary goal of the AO is to prevent the introduction, transmission and spread
of communicable disease by ensuring a minimum quality of service rendered by
hospitals and other health facilities in human stem cell therapies,” he said.
This will also ensure that human stem cells and other cell-based therapies are
safe and effective for their intended use, he added.
Mr.
Daba said hospitals may already have licenses to perform the regular health
services but they still need authorization from the DOH to perform stem cell
therapy. Without such authorization, he said, these hospitals are not allowed
to provide such services.
He
said authorized hospitals and clinics are required to comply with the
guidelines set by the Bioethics Advisory Board (BAB) which is chaired by the
DOH Secretary. There are already two applicants for the region and once
approved, DOH will release a Master List of facilities authorized to perform
Stem Cell Therapy in Region XI.
One
of the more serious proponents of stem cell therapy is Davao del Norte District
1 Representative Antonio del Rosario who is pushing for the establishment of a
Stem Cell Research and Storage Facility in Mindanao through House Bill 5037.
Prior
to the May, 2013 elections, del Rosario said the Bill has been approved by the
Science and Technology Committee and is pending with the Technical Working
Group.
“Stem
cell technology is already available in the Philippines but only in private and
expensive hospitals such as the Makati Medical Center and St. Luke’s,” he said.
Mr. del Rosario is a survivor of stage-3 lymphoma or cancer of the lymph nodes.
