NOV.

20, 2011 DATE

NR # 2593
REF. NO.

Solon wants to establish stem cell center in the country

A lawmaker is proposing the establishment of a stem cell center to strengthen research on stem cell technology as a potential cure for some diseases once considered incurable. Rep. Carmelo F. Lazatin (1st District, Pampanga), principal author of House Bill 5287, said the proposed center is mandated to undertake appropriate health and manpower development and research responsive to the countrys health needs and problems. Lazatin said stem cell treatment is a type of regenerative medicine that introduces new cells into damaged tissues to treat a disease or injury. Many countries have started tapping stem cells potential on their medical research to find cure to diseases like cancer, heart attacks and other cardiovascular anomalies, Parkinsons and different birth defects, Lazatin said. He cited the studies being done in the United States, the country that started research on stem cells, which create an array of scientific advances and medical applications. South Africa followed suit in 2004, creating a stem cell bank while China recently passed a legislation allowing research on stem cell, Lazatin said. Lazatin also cited Singapore, dubbed as the Asias stem cell center, with over 40 stem cell research groups in the country. The benefits of the stem cell are overwhelming to be simply ignored by the government because many Filipinos are suffering from different diseases that could be treated and cured by this medical breakthrough, Lazatin said. The bill provides the establishment of a Stem Cell Center of the Philippines, to be headed by a Medical Doctor and under the direct supervision and control of the Secretary of the Department of Health. The center shall conduct and support basic and applied research to develop techniques for the isolation, derivation, production, testing and storing of stem cells that can be used for research and treatment of disease and other adverse health conditions. The centers main objective shall be to establish the mechanisms for the dissemination and utilization of research in stem cell; to make sure that the techniques used in the research involving human cells are clearly consistent with the standards established under the law; to ensure that health research and development activities are utilized to improve peoples health and understanding of the stem cell treatments for diseases and other health conditions. (30) sb