China Aims to Elevate the Role of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Healthcare

Beijing – Yu Yanhong, a senior official of China's National Health Commission, stated that China plans to enhance the role of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in advancing the "Healthy China" initiative.

Yu, who also serves as the head of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, told Xinhua News that the administration is committed to ensuring public health in all aspects and throughout their entire lives by utilizing the full potential of TCM. The aim is also to promote the integration of TCM with Western medicine.

Currently, China has 41,700 TCM clinics, and over 99% of community and township-level medical institutions are capable of offering TCM services. In 2023 alone, 93,000 TCM-specialized institutions recorded a total of 1.54 billion treatments.

Yu further added that international exchanges of TCM have been promoted across 196 countries and regions. China has signed over 40 TCM cooperation agreements with foreign governments, regional authorities, and international organizations.

A key document from the Chinese Communist Party (CPC), approved in July, emphasized the importance of improving mechanisms to promote the preservation and innovative development of TCM.

Yu concluded by stating that China will support reforms in various areas of TCM, including service models, talent development mechanisms, and research evaluation systems. Efforts will also be made to explore the cultural value of TCM and to strengthen the protection, utilization, and inheritance of cultural heritage related to TCM.

Source: Xinhua Thai