” NOT PERMITTED TO OVERSELL”
Companies StemCord and Cordlife confirmed to CNA that they take part in pregnancy- and baby-related events like girl fairs, talks, and workshops. According to them, the goal is to raise awareness among families and raise awareness of cord blood banking.
Relatives told CNA that they’ve even seen salespeople at secret gynecologists.  ,
Valerie Wong, the CEO of StemCord, stated that the company uses its website and social media platforms to promote cord blood banks and areas brochures at gynecological and obstetric clinics.
All of our sales staff are trained to follow the guidelines set, and they are not permitted to overcharge or provide false data, she said.
She added that Stemcord’s technique is “educational”, and meets with the advertising and special rules set by MOH.
A Cordlife spokesman stated that the company” strives to maintain ethical business practices” in its advertising efforts, including being open and sincere.
We take care to ensure that all information provided to expecting kids about cord blood banks and our companies is based on reliable sources of facts and medical data, according to Cordlife.
According to its spokeswoman, parents are also informed about the risks associated with the selection of other sources of plant cells and care as well as the process of rope body selection and the retrieval of the necessary parental blood samples.
They can even” change their minds” before the delivery also after entering into an agreement, said Cordlife.
In StemCord’s event, anxious parents often mark up in their second or third as, said Ms Wong. They must sign up before giving birth so that they can take the cord blood selection box to the hospital on the day of the delivery, she continued.
The second secret cord blood banks in Singapore, Cryoviva, did not respond to CNA’s ask for feedback.
In response to CNA’s concerns, MOH stated that it looked into three 2021 to 2023 cases of cord blood bank licensed marketing.
In Singapore, the Healthcare Services Act of 2020 permits cable blood bank. When marketing their companies, owners are required to follow the rules of the Act regarding marketing.
These include making sure their ad is technically correct and appropriate, as well as ensuring that it does not contain any information that amounts to soliciting or encouraging the use of the company, according to MOH.
Cord blood banks is also simply advertise through online and print media, like as brochures and flyers.
” Before written acceptance of an individual must also be obtained before brochures, flyers, brochures or papers containing the contact details of a owner can get distributed to the individual”, MOH added.
Owners who breach the rules face a fine of up to S$ 20, 000 ( US$ 14, 700 ) and up to 12 times ‘ jail.