Mandate

Republic Act 8423 (R.A. 8423) mandates the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC) “to improve the quality and delivery of health care services to the Filipino people through the development of traditional and alternative health care and its integration into the national health care delivery system“.

VISION

“People’s health through traditional and alternative health care”

MISSION

“We lead in the research and development, promotion and advocacy, and development of standards on traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM); and we ensure its accessibility, availability, sustainability and integration into the national health care. system.”

OBJECTIVES

Encourage scientific research on and develop traditional and alternative health care systems that have direct impact on public health care;
Promote and advocate the use of traditional, alternative, preventive, and curative health care modalities that have been proven safe, effective, cost effective and consistent with government standards on medical practice;
Develop and coordinate skills training courses for various forms of traditional and alternative health care modalities;
Formulate standards, guidelines and codes of ethical practice appropriate for the practice of traditional and alternative health care as well as in the manufacture, quality control and marketing of different traditional and alternative health care materials, natural and organic products, for approval and adoption by the appropriate government agencies;
Formulate policies for the protection of indigenous and natural health resources and technology from unwarranted exploitation, for approval and adoption by the appropriate government agencies;
Formulate policies to strengthen the role of traditional and alternative health care delivery system; and
Promote traditional and alternative health care in international and national conventions, seminars and meetings in coordination with the Department of Tourism, Duty Free Philippines, Incorporated, Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporation and other tourism-related agencies as well as non-government organizations and local government units.

POWER AND FUNCTIONS

To plan and carry out research and development activities in the areas of traditional and alternative health care and its ultimate integration into the national health care delivery system;
To verify, package and transfer economically viable technologies in the field of traditional and alternative health care, giving emphasis on the social engineering aspects necessary for group endeavor;
To provide the data base or policy formulation that will stimulate and sustain production, marketing and consumption of traditional and alternative health care products;
To organize and develop continuing training programs for physicians, nurses, pharmacists, physical therapists, and other professional health workers and students, as well as scientists, research managers and extension workers in the field of traditional and alternative health care;
To formulate policies that would create public awareness through educational activities, conventions, seminars, conferences, and the like by focusing on the promotion of healthy living for preventing diseases, thereby uplifting the health care industry;
To acquire or obtain from any governmental authority whether national or local, foreign or domestic, or from any person, corporation, partnership, association or other entity, such charters, franchises, licenses, rights, privileges, assistance, financial or otherwise, and concessions as are conducive to and necessary or proper for the attainment of its purposes and objectives;
To receive and acquire from any person and/or government and private entities, whether foreign or domestic, grants, donations and contributions consisting of such properties, real or personal, including funds and valuable effects or things, as may be useful, necessary or proper to carry out its purposes and objectives and administer the same in accordance with the terms of such grants, donations and contributions, consistent with its purposes and objectives;
To serve as the coordinating center of a national network of traditional and alternative health care stations located in the different regions of the country;
To formulate a code of ethics and standards for the practice of traditional and alternative health care modalities for approval and adoption by the appropriate professional and government agencies;
To formulate standards and guidelines for the manufacture, marketing and quality control of different traditional and alternative health care materials and products for approval and adoption by the Bureau of Food and Drugs;
To coordinate with other institutions and agencies involved in the research on herbal medicines;
To adopt and use a corporate seal;
To sue and be sued in its corporate name;
To succeed by its corporate name;
To adopt its bylaws and promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary or proper to implement this Act, and to amend or repeal the same from time to time;
To enter into, make and execute contracts and agreements of any kind or nature;
To borrow, raise or obtain funds, or to enter into any financial or credit arrangement in order to support or carry out its research programs, finance its capital and operating expenses, subject to pertinent laws governing public debts and expenditure;
To invest in, purchase or otherwise acquire, own, hold, use, mortgage, pledge, encumber, sell, assign, convey, exchange, or otherwise deal in real and/or personal properties of whatever kind and nature, or any interest therein, including shares of stock, bonds, notes, securities and other evidences of indebtedness of natural or juridical persons, whether domestic or foreign and whether government or private;
To exercise all the powers of a corporation under the General Corporation Law, insofar as such powers are not in violation of the provisions of this Act; and
To exercise such other powers and functions, and perform other acts as may be necessary, proper or incidental to the attainment of its purposes and objectives.