Abstract: The “health for all by 2000” campaign initiated in 1978 sparked debates on the integration of the two traditions – traditional
times, authorities frequently outlawed traditional medical systems and marginalized these indigenous healing practices. In post-colonial times, the attitudes of Western-trained medical practitioners and health officials have maintained the marginal status of traditional healthcare providers despite the important role that these practitioners play in providing basic healthcare to the rural indigenous communities in most developing countries (Bodekar 1994).
     In the late 1990s, policy interest in traditional approaches to healthcare led to a resurgence of interest, investment, and program development in many developing countries (Bodekar). In fact, there are already fourteen countries and areas in the Asia-Pacific region that have developed official government documents recognizing traditional medicine and its practice. This is a remarkable development as opposed to a decade ago when only four countries’ had done so.
     In 1997, the Philippines signed into law the Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act that lays down the policy of the state to improve the quality and delivery of healthcare services to the Filipino people through the development of traditional and alternative healthcare and its integration into the national healthcare delivery system. The act also created the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Healthcare to accelerate the development of traditional and alternative healthcare in the country (WHO 2002).