Many risks from cosmetic facilities using "hand-carried" stem cells to treat diseases

Currently, many cosmetic clinics and facilities “carry” products called “stem cells” from abroad to Vietnam, advertising that they can treat many diseases without quality control. People still trust and pay large sums of money for these services, while the quality and safety are not guaranteed, causing unhealthy competition with facilities that invest properly and comply with regulations…

The above comment was made by Dr. Nguyen Ngo Quang, Director of the Department of Science, Technology and Training ( Ministry of Health ) at the Workshop on Building National Standards (TCVN) for cells and cell products used in research, organized by the Ministry of Health on October 6 at the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City.

According to Dr. Nguyen Ngo Quang, in recent times, the development of the field of cells and cell-based products has lacked control. While many scientists and research facilities have seriously invested and complied with regulations to ensure quality, many medical facilities and cosmetic clinics, both official and unofficial, have taken advantage of the name of cell applications to provide services to customers without management, posing many risks and consequences.

Many types of stem cells are introduced and sold on the market (illustration).

Dr. Vo Thi Nhi Ha, Head of the Department of Scientific Research and Technology Development Management, Department of Science, Technology and Training, Ministry of Health, added that "carrying" stem cells from abroad to Vietnam or sending patients abroad for treatment all pose many safety and legal risks. These "carry-on" products do not comply with legal regulations, have not been tested or inspected by competent authorities, so their quality cannot be guaranteed. During the transportation and storage process, these products are often not carried out according to technical procedures, easily changing their biological properties, causing risks to users.

Dr. Nguyen Tri Thuc, Deputy Minister of Health, spoke at the conference.

Dr. Nguyen Ngo Quang stated that without specific management tools, the consequences will first and foremost directly affect people's health. He emphasized that controlling cell quality in the stem cell application process is a mandatory requirement.

Director of the Department of Science, Technology and Training Nguyen Ngo Quang spoke at the workshop.

According to Dr. Nguyen Ngo Quang, this is a strategic technology field, so there needs to be a clear legal corridor, creating a development mechanism but still under State control.

Dr. Nguyen Tri Thuc, Deputy Minister of Health, emphasized: “The first set of standards is very important and is the foundation for the later completion process to serve research and eventually serve treatment, thereby aiming at the common goal of ensuring people's health, standardizing treatment and research procedures, avoiding mistakes or unfortunate consequences in the later application process.”

In 2025, the Ministry of Health will issue a set of standards for the quality of cells and cell-based products, initially applied in research and clinical applications, and then expanded to treatment, to ensure quality control and effectiveness in practice.

Source: https://cand.com.vn/y-te/nhieu-nguy-co-tu-viec-co-so-tham-my-su-dung-te-bao-goc-xach-tay-dieu-tri-benh-i783756/