THE Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC), an attached agency of the Department of Health, yesterday said it will push for the regulation of traditional and alternative medicine practice amid its growing popularity.
In a press conference, PITAHC legal officer Carmencita Santos said the agency is pushing for amendments to Republic Act No. 8423 to give it the mandate to regulate traditional and alternative medicine practitioners and facilities.
“The increasing number of our traditional and complementary medicine practitioners (will) need regulation to ensure that the general public, who are consumers patronizing these different types of modalities, are safe and the services provided are effective,” said Santos.
PITAHC data showed only 1,450 practitioners of alternative and traditional medicines are registered. They include practitioners of acupuncture, naturopathy, chiropractic, traditional “hilot,” massage, and osteopathy, among others.
PITAHC said it is aware there way more practitioners who are not registered with the government.
“We already have almost hundred plus thousand already, and reports are still coming in,” said Dr. Rodrigo Ong, chief of the PITAHC Research and Development Division.
PITAHC Director General Dr Annabelle de Guzman said traditional and alternative medicine practitioners welcome the proposal to regulate their sector.
