Did this prompt the decision to establish the Peruvian Institute of Andean Phytotherapeutic Research? No, as a matter of fact. This Institute was actually formed, unexpectedly, at the initiative of a Spanish citizen who had come from North America where he had been receiving cancer treatment, until someone there suggested that he should contact Fr. Szeliga by phone. Once in Lima, impressed by the favourable results of the initial treatment that he was advised to follow, the patient proposed that the service which was being provided in an individual and private manner should be institutionalized. Father Szeliga agreed, although not precisely for academic reasons, but bearing in mind the pressing needs of the population as far as healthcare is concerned.

So it was that between April and May 1983, thanks mainly to the above-mentioned patient’s persistent determination -even though he was only passing through Lima- IPIFA was legally incorporated as a private, non-profit organization for scientific, medical-healthcare and promotional purposes, in which licensed health professionals have been providing services since the end of 1984.

Among the eight friends and collaborators who initially contributed to the emergence of this Institute, of which Eng. Javier Santolalla S. was its first co-founder associate, three of them -Miss Constanza Barera C., Mr. Juan Alfonso Aspillaga P. and Dr. Iñigo Aspillaga P.- are co-founders still actively supporting Fr. Edmund Szeliga, besides being members of the General Assembly of Associates.
Fr. Edmund Szeliga K., Dr. Wilbert Scargglioni Ch., Eng. Carlos Flores S., Mr. Ricardo Mauriz R., Lic. Roberto Armebianchi M. and Dr. Ramiro Carbajal N. are members of the Board of Directors, chaired by Dr. William Schmitt L.