Republic Act 8423 (Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act)
1. Definition
Republic Act No. 8423, known as the Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act (TAMA) of 1997, is the Philippine law that created the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC). The law promotes and regulates the use of traditional, alternative, and herbal medicines, certifying the efficacy of local medicinal plants (such as lagundi and sambong) for public health. (Official Gazette)
2. Alternate Names
- RA 8423
- TAMA
- TAMA Act of 1997
3. Recognized Identities
| Source Type | Identity |
|---|---|
| Wikipedia | Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act |
| Wikidata | Q115814526 |
| DBpedia | N/A |
| ProductOntology | N/A |
| Wiktionary | medicine |
| Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) | Alternative medicine — Law and legislation — Philippines |
| MeSH | N/A |
| NCBI Taxonomy | N/A |
| AGROVOC | N/A |
| Google Scholar | Republic Act 8423 Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act TAMA PITAHC herbal medicine |
| ConceptNet | N/A |
| OpenCyc | N/A |
4. Examples of Usage
- Herbal Certification: PITAHC certifying lagundi syrup as an effective cough remedy under the guidelines of RA 8423.
- Natural Health: The main canonical article details the herbal remedies, traditional practices, diet supplements, and local health guidelines.
5. Usage Scenarios
1. Registering an herbal supplement
A health manufacturer submits clinical trials to the FDA and PITAHC to register a new ginger supplement product.
2. Integrating alternative therapies
A clinic registers alternative practitioners (acupuncture, chiropractic) under the standards set by the PITAHC board.
6. Strategies
- Cross-reference herbal certifications and traditional practice rules with the main Natural Health article.
- Leverage the PITAHC certified list of 10 priority medicinal plants when sourcing local raw health ingredients.
7. Security and Safety Measures
- Ensure that alternative medicine practitioners are licensed and accredited by PITAHC before practice.
- Verify that any commercial herbal health formulations comply with FDA product safety clearances.
8. Historical Context
Signed into law by President Fidel V. Ramos on December 9, 1997, Republic Act No. 8423 was enacted to validate and regulate traditional healing practices. By institutionalizing PITAHC, the law integrated traditional herbal medicine into the national healthcare system, supporting affordable health choices.
9. Challenges and Controversies
Lack of Standardized Clinical Trials
Many local herbal formulations lack rigorous scientific clinical trials, delaying their official medical endorsement.
Competition with Synthetic Drugs
Overcoming public and medical bias toward synthetic drugs in favor of certified herbal alternatives remains a challenge.
10. Related Topic
- [[Natural Health]]
- [[Xanthones]]
- [[Dietary Supplement Regulation in the Philippines]]