By: Jet Villa, InterAksyon.com June 29, 2013 6:55 PM

InterAksyon.com The online news portal of TV5

MANILA, Philippines -- The Food and Drug Administration has asked hotels to guard against allowing stem cell therapy to be performed in their premises.

FDA acting director Dr. Kenneth Hartigan-Go said hotels may be held liable for guests found performing or undergoing stem cell therapy in their rooms.

Go pointed out that performing medical procedures like stem cell therapy in a non-health facility is illegal.

Under Republic Act 9711 or the Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009, violators face a fine of up to P500,000 plus closure of the establishment and jail terms.

In FDA Advisory 2013-012 issued May 15, the agency warned the pubic against "receiving unapproved stem cell preparations in non-health facilities."

"Patients who might receive stem cell preparations and therapy without prior FDA-Department of Health approval run the risks of contracting infectious diseases and severe complications which may lead to permanent disabilities, physical deformities, serious iatrogenic harm, autoimmune diseases and worst death, and without the benefit of health insurance coverage," the advisory said.

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FDA urges hotels to guard vs stem cell therapy

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 doctors offering the procedure in their clinics, saying that hospitals, not (individual) doctors, nor stand-alone clinics, are the ones being accredited.

Not a cure all

The Palace official also cautioned the public against claims that stem cell therapy was a cure all (for diseases).

There is no treatment that will cure all of your ills. Much less your love problems, Valte said.

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Gov’t to tighten rules on stem cell therapy