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
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
