La Union Rep. Eufranio Eriguel. Photo from congress.gov.ph
MANILA, Philippines鈥擜 congressman has joined the call to regulate stem cell therapy administered in the country.
La Union Rep. Eufranio Eriguel has introduced House Bill No. 212, which would put up a 鈥渂ioethics advisory board鈥� that would establish 鈥渆thical standards鈥� governing the practice of stem cell research and therapy.
Under the proposed Stem Cell Research and Therapy Act of 2013, the board 鈥渟hall be responsible for addressing contentious ethical, scientific and legal issues in stem cell and cell-based or cellular research and therapies.
鈥淭here is much to be learned from stem cell therapy, its benefits and application in the cure of some of the most devastating diseases and conditions. As of now, the full promise of stem cell treatment remains unknown,鈥� Eriguel said in a statement.
鈥淏ut the cost far outweighs its benefits because it is very expensive and only a few physicians are trained to do stem cell procedures here in the Philippines.鈥�
In his proposal, the board will be headed by the health secretary and the National Transplant Ethics Committee, while the Food and Drug Administration director will serve as vice chairman.
A proposed 鈥渋nstitutional review committee鈥� will be tasked to approve 鈥渟tem cell and cell-based or cellular research and therapies鈥� based on existing Department of Health guidelines.