The Philippine Natural Health Products Industry or PNHPI

The PNHPI is a new sunrise industry that has emerged out of our mainstream agricultural industry.

It arose from the enactment in 1997 of the Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act or the TAMA which set a new national health policy of developing natural medicinal and health products and their integration into our health delivery system.

The PHNPI consists of companies engaged in R & D, farming, production, manufacturing, domestic and export marketing of health related raw materials and ingredients as well as finished products-- from our botanicals, marine and mineral resources.

The PNHPI has transformed many of our normally low-priced botanical, marine and mineral resources into significantly higher value products due to their varied health and wellness applications-- which enjoy a fast growing domestic and worldwide markets.

The PNHPI's natural products are classified into two general categories:

1) Medicinal, health supplements, nutraceuticals and wellness products

2) Cosmetics, personal care and home care products

1) Our peoples' health: by developing affordable and natural medicinal products particularly for Primary Health Care which is for the prevention of diseases and maintenance of good health and wellness.

2) Our country's economy: PHNPI provides livelihood for our small farmers, creates jobs and generates export earnings.

In 2008, it was estimated that the combined worldwide market for Natural medicinal, health supplements, nutraceuticals, wellness, cosmetics, personal and home care products is about US$4.5 Trillion!

And it is still growing!

Source: Themedica Industry overview, 2008.

PNHPI: Quo Vadis?

How will the Philippines with its rich botanical, marine and mineral resources, idle land, industrious farmers, scientists and entrepreneurs--and a new government that encourages Private-Public Cooperation-- become a major player in these growing markets???

The Chamber of Herbal Industries of the Philippines, Inc. (CHIPI),

with the support of the

Bureau of Export Trade Promotions (BETP)of the

Department of Trade and Industry

held a two-day Summit Conference of the various PNHPI stakeholders on April 20 & 28, 2009.

To formulate the PNPHI stakeholder’s recommendations to the Government on the policy environment and support that the PNHPI needs to grow faster and become a major contributor to our people's health and country's economy.

Prior to the Summit Conference proper, a series of consultative workshops were conducted on April 15, 17 and 18 with resource speakers from the BETP & IPO of the DTI; BPI, BAFPS and ACPC of DA; PCHRD of the DOST, OWWA of the DOLE, DILG, PITAHC & DOH, DBP, AIM, UST, and UPLB.

Participating industry stakeholders were: CHIPI, VCOP, OPTA, SAPI, NISARD, PICART,ATHAG and BCP.

The Summit conference concluded that in order to accelerate the development of the PNHPI:

1) The Public and Private Sectors must agree on a unified national development plan for the PNHPI;

2) The various agencies in the government must work together in cooperation with the private sector to support the unified development plan.

The Summit Conference also concluded thatthe National Development Plan must consist ofthe following:

1). A unified National Marketing Plan which should start with the identification and adoption of "Champion products" for each of the PNHPI product categories-- that will be prioritized for development.

2) A unified National Research Agenda to support the priority "Champion products"

3) A unified National Production Agenda to support the development and production of the "champion products"

4) A unified export marketing plan

5) A financing and incentive program

6) A legislative agenda that will create a regulatory environment that will promote the growth of the PNHPI

Recommendations to His Excellency President Benigno S. Aquino III:

1) Declare the PNHPI as a Presidential Flagship Industry via an Executive Order

2) Create a Presidential Task Force for the Development of the PNHPI with the objectives of

(a) developing the unified Public-Private National Development Plan and

(b) directing the unified harnessing the manpower and resources of the public and private sectors towards one unified endeavor in pursuit of the National Development Plan.

The Presidential Task Force, its composition:

1) President Aquino as Chairman2) Presidential Action Officer3) DTI Secretary4) DA Secretary5) DOH Secretary6) DENR Secretary7) DOST Secretary8) DOT Secretary9) PITAHC Representatives10) Five (5) representatives from the PNHPI

nominated by CHIPI.