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Hong Kong beauty salon blunders spark move to regulate stem cell treatment and therapies

Move to amend law and public consultation follow recent case in which a woman died and three others were seriously injured after experimental procedure

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Authorities are looking to submit an amendment bill for the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance to Legco next year, which would regulate services such as blood transfusion therapies. Photo: Andrew Brookes/ Corbis

The Hong Kong government on Tuesday moved a step closer to regulating stem cell treatment and other “advanced therapy” products in the city as it launched a two-month consultation following recent cases of serious blunders in beauty salon procedures.

In a statement, authorities proposed classifying the services – including gene therapy, somatic cell therapy and tissue engineering – under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, which would require amending the law.

Stem cells, in particular, are used in a variety of treatments, such as anti-ageing therapies and immune system enhancement.

Doctor jailed for 12 years over worst beauty treatment blunder in Hong Kong’s history

According to a member of the government-appointed Task Force on Regulation of Advanced Therapeutic Products in Hong Kong, procedures similar to the one in the DR Group case – in which a woman died and three others were seriously injured from a blood transfusion – would also be regulated following the changes.

A Department of Health spokesman said there had been “fast” development in such therapy services in recent years, but information on their effectiveness and long-term results were “limited”.

“To safeguard public health, the government proposes to put [such services] under the existing regulatory framework for pharmaceutical products,” the spokesman said.

The government proposes to put [such services] under the existing regulatory framework for pharmaceutical products
Department of Health spokesman
Before submitting an amendment bill to the Legislative Council, a consultation will be held to gather views from the public from Tuesday to June 2.
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