Stem Cell Treatment: Costa Rica vs Panama

June 2, 2017

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We have received several inquiries about the stem cell clinic that was previously in Costa Rica, but moved to Panama, and is now known as the Stem Cell Institute of Panama. People were curious about the circumstances surrounding their move, and how the stem cell treatment at our clinic differ in terms of procedures, price, and efficacy?

Note: Despite all advances in stem cells research and the application of these therapies in many countries all over the world, stem cells therapies are not legally approved yet in San Diego, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, New York, Jacksonville, Seattle, Houston, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Miami, Beverly Hills and other US cities. However, stem cell treatments are legal in Costa Rica.

Why did Stem Cell Institute Panama move? Is the health care system better in Panama? What Happened?

First, it is important to mention that when the Stem Cell Institute of Panama moved from Costa Rica to Panama, stem cell treatment laws were being modified in Costa Rica and stem cell treatments were not legally approved by the Costa Rican Government at that time, a situation that has changed today.

In 2010, Ileana Herrera, the head of the health ministry’s research council in Costa Rica, said the Stem Cell Institute of Panama, which opened in Costa Rica in 2006, would be allowed to store adult stem cells extracted from patients’ own fat tissue, bone marrow and donated umbilical cords, but not perform treatments since efficiency and safety were uncertain.

Today stem cell treatments in Costa Rica are legally approved and promoted by relevant medical clinics like the Stem Cells Transplant Institute in Escazú. Regulations in Costa Rica were modified recently in favor of the use of stem cells. The complaints by Stem Cell Institute of Panama originated due to the situation in Costa Rica at that specific time. Research into the type of comments and complaints in searches related to the Panamanian company would reveal inquiries such as:

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Many articles have been written in response to the above questions by various sources with statements both pro and con, but those comments, and / or complaints would be made about any clinic anywhere because of the controversy surrounding these new stem cell treatments.

The Stem Cell Transplants Institute in Panama, as well as the healthcare system, faces many challenges today that interfere with complete development.

Despite advances in stem cells transplants in Panama and in Panama´s health care in the past few years, there is a shortage of healthcare professionals. This is not an issue limited to the health sector, but rather a tendency that affects multiple fields of the economy in Panama. Also, although the country has made important advances toward universal healthcare coverage, according to the Pan American Health Organization, public and private sector covered around 90% of the population in 2014, access to health services is not equally available for everyone. There is a marked discrepancy between health outcomes in urban and rural settings.

In comparison, the Costa Rican healthcare system is rated very highly on an international level, and the country’s citizens enjoy the health and life expectancy equal to that of more developed nations. Nearly the entire population of Costa Rica had healthcare coverage by the year 2006. In addition, the country ranks among one of the best for specialized medical professionals. This is the case with Dr. Leslie Mesén, who specializes in stem cells treatments and anti-aging therapies in Escazú. Get more information here.

To summarize, the healthcare in Costa Rica has many advantages when compared to Panama. Additional benefits include, security and weather. For example, Panama is more hot, humid, and cloudy and has a prolonged rainy season. Costa Rica is a great destination for stem cell therapy.

How do our treatments differ? Are Stem Cells Institute Panama cures and methods different from ours?

The Stem Cell Institute of Panama utilizes mainly combinations of allogeneic human umbilical cord stem cells and autologous bone marrow stem cells to treat the diseases. The Stem Cells Institute in Costa Rica uses adult autologous stem cells obtained from the patient’s own fatty tissue.

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation utilized by Stem Cell Institute of Panama is a procedure in which a person receives stem cells from a genetically similar, but not identical, donor. These types of cells are more vulnerable to rejection than autologous cells (cells derived from the same individual). In comparison, the Stem Cells Transplant Institute in Costa Rica uses exclusively adult autologous stem cells obtained from the patient’s own tissue, so risk of rejections is almost non-existent. Adult stem cells are less likely to be rejected when used in transplants and they are possible to reprogram. The success of using adult stem cells has been demonstrated in various clinical applications. Top stem cell research universities have studies suggesting that adult stem cells may have greater plasticity than was originally thought, which means that they may be able to differentiate into a greater range of specialized cell types. At present, however, it would appear that embryonic stem cells still have the advantage in their ability to differentiate more readily than adult stem cells, but as we just mentioned, the possibility of rejection is also much higher.

Another important difference between the Stem Cell Institute of Panama treatments and the treatments at the Stem Cells Transplant Institute of Costa Rica is that since adult stem cells are derived from adult tissues and, of course, with consent from the patient, there is little if any ethical dilemma to adult stem cell therapies. Embryonic stem cells and umbilical cord stem cells, on the other hand, have triggered enormous debate due to the destruction of an embryo following cell extraction or issues surrounding the collection and application of stem cells from the umbilical cord.

At the Stem Cells Transplant Institute in Costa Rica, we use adult stem cells. We harvest stem cells from a sample of your own bone marrow or adipose tissue and later inject them intravenously or directly in the zone required. The therapies are legally approved in Costa Rica and are highly controlled. You can be assured that we follow the highest ethical standards and do not practice any procedures that may be viewed as crossing the ethical standards of human life.

Are therapies more expensive in Costa Rica? Are Stem Cell Institute Panama costs lower?

No, the cost of treatment at the Stem Cell Institute of Panama is very similar to Costa Rica. The experts at the Stem Cells Institute in Costa Rica use state-of-the-art technology and provide high quality care at a reasonable price.

Do treatments in Costa Rica differ from the treatments at the Stem Cell Institute of Panama in terms of efficacy?

Stem cell transplants in Panama and Costa Rica are being used for autism, COPD, anti-aging and many other degenerative and inflammatory diseases. People with various illnesses interested in stem cell treatment at the Stem Cell Institute of Panama, have done an internet search for:

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It should be noted that the Stem Cells Transplant Institute of Costa Rica offers the same treatments, and more in our new, ultra-modern clinic in the CIMA Medical Center. In terms of efficacy, stem cells by themselves have the remarkable potential to develop into many different cell types in the body independently of the health center; however, it requires a strict isolation process and qualified expertise for the correct application.

At the Stem Cells Transplant Institute in Costa Rica, we guarantee you we strictly follow well-designed isolation protocols, with high standards of quality, hygiene, and top technological resources. The therapies are applied by highly qualified professionals so you receive the best possible results. The procedures followed by Stem Cell Transplant Institute of Panama are not known to us.

The Stem Cell Institute of Panama moved from Costa Rica because of temporary circumstances that have been resolved and have nothing to do with aspects of efficacy, lower costs or lack of resources in Costa Rica. In comparison, Costa Rica has a higher standard of healthcare and expert institutions like the Stem Cells Transplant Institute that offer legally approved and high-quality therapies.