Guidelines on the National Accreditation of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (TAHC) Organizations

March 1, 2016

PITAHC CIRCULAR NO. 02, S. 2016

GUIDELINES ON THE NATIONAL ACCREDITATION OF TRADITIONAL AND ALTERNATIVE HEALTH CARE (TAHC) ORGANIZATIONS

I. Rationale

The Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act (TAMA) of 1997 (R.A. 8423) states that it is a policy of the State to improve the quality and delivery of health care services to the Filipino people through the development, promotion, and utilization of traditional and alternative health care and its integration into the national health care delivery system. HSAcaE

The implementation of PITAHC IRR on the National Accreditation of TAHC organizations is pursuant to Section 3 of Rule V (Research and Development) stating partnership with the public and private sectors and the academe and Rule VI (Promotion, Advocacy and Training) of IRR of R.A. 8423. The accreditation of TAHC organizations is needed to pursue and promote consistent quality service improvement, and strengthen the accountability of all stakeholders in the traditional and alternative health care practices. Accreditation of TAHC organizations will likewise enable the said organizations to avail of the resources of whatever allowable forms of assistance PITAHC has in the implementation of its programs and projects.

II. Definition of Terms

For the purpose of the Guidelines, the following terms shall mean or be understood as follows:

a. Republic Act 8423 — an Act creating the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC) to accelerate the development of traditional and alternative health care in the Philippines or otherwise known as Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act of (TAMA) of 1997.

b. Traditional and Alternative Health Care (TAHC) — the sum total of knowledge, skills and practices, other than those embodied in biomedicine, used in the prevention, diagnosis, and elimination of physical or mental disorders.

c. Biomedicine — the discipline of medical care advocating therapy with remedies that produce effect differing from those of the diseases treated; also called 'allopathy,' 'western medicine,' 'regular medicine,' 'conventional medicine,' 'mainstream medicine,' 'orthodox medicine,' or 'cosmopolitan medicine.'

d. Traditional Chinese Medicine — the traditional medicine that originated in China, and is characterized by holism and treatment based on pattern identification/syndrome differentiation.

e. Alternative Health Care Modalities — other forms of non-allophatic, occasionally non-indigenous or imported healing methods, though not necessarily practiced for centuries nor handed down from one generation to another; include refloxology, acupuncture, massage, acupressure, chiropractic, nutritional therapy, yoga, tai chi, qi gong, prayer, reiki, pranic healing, mindfulness meditation, biofeedback, hypnosis, dance and other movement therapies, art and music therapy, and other similar methods.

f. National Accreditation — process of issuing certificates to training programs, centers, clinics, and organizations.

g. Code of Ethics — a summary of the standards by which TAHC organizations and practitioners agree to conduct their practice and is a declaration of the general principles of acceptable, ethical, and professional behavior.

h. Community-Based Health Programs (CBHP) — health programs which include acupuncture and other TAHC modalities as its program and services, catering primarily to the poor, the vulnerable sectors, and marginalized communities.

i. Portfolio Assessment — evaluation of documents submitted as evidence of experiences, such as documented accomplishments of TAHC activities and services of the organizations and other similar documents for review by PITAHC.

j. Traditional and Alternative Health Care (TAHC) Organization — a group of persons organized for some specific purpose geared towards the development and promotion of traditional and alternative health care products, services, and technologies and its integration into the national health care delivery system. The scope or coverage of the organizations can be national, local, or community-based.

III. Implementing Guidelines for the Accreditation of TAHC Organizations

A. General Guidelines

 All organizations with programs and services that are in line with the PITAHC vision and mission through provision of quality, safe, effective, and affordable traditional and alternative health care products, services, and technologies, can apply for national accreditation. Only the TAHC organizations that promote the modalities approved and recognized by PITAHC (such as but not limited to acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathy, naturopathy, and tuina massage) based on the existing Implementing Guidelines for certification and accreditation will be given due recognition and will be accredited as TAHC organizations.

B. National Certification Committees for TAHC Organizations

 The evaluation of applicants for the accreditation of TAHC organizations will be done by the respective National Certification Committees (NCCs) for Acupuncture, Chiropractic, Homeopathy, Naturopathy, and other TAHC modalities to be recognized by PITAHC (Osteopathy, Hilot), appropriate for the respective TAHC organizations.

C. Requirements for Accreditation

 Application for accreditation of the respective TAHC organizations shall be submitted to PITAHC together with the following documents duly certified or authenticated:

1. SEC Registration, Articles of Incorporation, and Constitution and By-Laws

2. Certified Board Resolution

3. At least one (1) member of the Board or one (1) of the incorporators is a PITAHC-certified practitioner of any of the recognized TAHC modalities

4. A duly accomplished application form for accreditation (See attached TAHC Organization Accreditation Form I and Form II)

5. Business permit, if applicable

6. Updated list of personnel and members of the organization

7. Documentation of the current TAHC programs and services

8. Latest copy of publications (if any)

9. Other documents that may be required by PITAHC based on National Certification Committee recommendations

 Additional requirements for foreign TAHC organizations:

8. n Affiliation with a recognized TAHC international organization

9. Certificate of Registration of the TAHC organization HESIcT

10. Documents must be authenticated by the Philippine embassy or consulate of the country of origin of the applicant organization

D. Issuance of Certificate of Accreditation

 A Certificate of Accreditation with the PITAHC dry seal shall be issued in favor of any TAHC organization who fully complied with the prescribed requirements.

E. Validity of Certificate of Accreditation

 A Certificate of Accreditation granted under these guidelines shall be valid for three (3) years for a newly-accredited local or national TAHC organization and one (1) year for a foreign TAHC organization. The accreditation shall be subject to suspension or cancellation for cause as determined by PITAHC National Certification Committee.

F. Accreditation Fees

 The application fee shall be collected from applicants who have complied with the requirements for accreditation. An application fee will be collected based on the national accounting rules and regulations and may be changed anytime upon review and recommendation of PITAHC National Certification Committee.

1. An application fee of Five Hundred Pesos (P500.00) shall be paid by the local or national TAHC organization to PITAHC.

2. An accreditation fee of Two Thousand Three Hundred Pesos (P2,300.00) shall be collected upon approval of the application.

3. For a foreign TAHC organization, an application fee of One Hundred Fifty US Dollars (US$150.00), and an accreditation fee of Two Hundred US Dollars (US$200.00) shall be collected.

G. Renewal of Accreditation

 The Accreditation shall be renewed on or before its date of expiration. The renewal fee is P2,300.00 for three (3) years for local or national TAHC organization and US$200 for one (1) year for a foreign TAHC organization. The fees may be changed based on review and recommendation of PITAHC National Certification Committee.

1. A penalty of Five Hundred Pesos (P500.00) shall be charged per year for non-renewal of a local or national TAHC organization and One Hundred US Dollars (US$100.00) for a foreign TAHC organization.

H. Grounds for Cancellation of Accreditation

 The following are grounds upon which the Certificate of Accreditation may be revoked, canceled, or suspended:

1. Violation of the PITAHC Code of Ethics and Standard of Practice for any of the PITAHC-recognized TAHC modalities

2. Falsification of documents

3. Illegal and immoral activities

All issuances inconsistent with the provisions of the Guidelines are hereby suspended or amended accordingly. The amendment to the Guidelines shall take effect on March 1, 2016.

(SGD.) ISIDRO C. SIADirector General

n Note from the Publisher: Copied verbatim from the official copy.