MANILA, Philippines There is no need for actress-TV host Kris Aquino to seek stem cell therapy treatment abroad for her son Joshua.

Dr. Leo O. Olarte, president of the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) and spokesman of the Philippine Society for Stem Cell Medicine (PSSCM), said stem cell treatment experts in the Philippines are competent enough to help Aquino's 17-year-old son. We have the ethical, moral, safe and effective stem cell or regenerative medicine technology available in the country today," Olarte said in a statement released Wednesday. Olarte added that the Philippines does not only have internationally accepted stem cell technologies but also the competent medical doctors and experts.

PSSCM has been closely working with the Department of Health (DOH) and currently in consultation with the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) Board of Medicine in our desire that the practice of stem cell therapy be highly regulated by our government to protect our patients from unscrupulous practices," he said.

Olarte said they are willing to help Aquino if she considers getting the treatment for her son done in the Philippines.

If consulted we are very willing to help in any way Ms. Kris Aquino most especially in making available to her the correct information to guide her in making the right decision for her beloved son Josh, he said.

On her talk show Kris TV, Aquino said she wants her son Josh, who has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), to undergo stem cell therapy after getting advice from some of her friends. "Meron akong mga friends na 'yung mga anak nila underwent stem cell therapy. And 'yung condition nila is just like Josh's and they're special children. Sobrang laki kasi yung naging improvement," said Aquino.

Safety first

Dr. Olarte, however, warned patient about the dangers of xenogenic or allogenic stem cell sources which use stem cells from animals, plants, and even from other human beings.

Reports of such cases done in Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore, and other countries resulting to death due to severe complications have reached Olarte's office.

PSSCM is pushing only for autologous stem cell therapy which means that the source of the stem cells must come only from the patients own body namely from the patients own bone marrow, blood and adipose tissues (fat) because this is the safest and proven procedure that is available worldwide today, explained Olarte.

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Kris told: Stem cell treatment available in PH