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Magic of Chinese traditional treatment

china.org.cn / chinagate.cn by Sajjad Malik, December 15, 2016 Adjust font size:

China is a vast country with a centuries old civilization. Its rich past is reflected in several aspects of modern China. One of the best examples of historical experiences is the way the traditional medical knowledge, experiences, practices and products have survived and found their place in the present world.

Broadly, the traditional medical legacy of China is part of the local Asian way of treating illness. The Chinese medical practice is more than 2,500 years old and is based on various forms of herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage and dietary therapy.

The importance of traditional medicine has been officially acknowledged and the Chinese government has prepared a document based on policy measures to develop Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) which aims to further increase and magnify its role in coping with modern challenges. The document is also known as the white paper on Traditional Chinese Medicine in China and has been published by the State Council Information Office.

The paper not only gives valuable data about the prevalence of TCM in China but also provides a blue print for development of traditional medicine by incorporating them into the national health policy of the country. According to the white paper, the government is committed to supporting the spread of TCM locally and globally.

Already, hundreds and thousands of people are receiving benefits of these time-tested medicines. According to the white paper, China has 3,966 TCM hospitals, 42,528 TCM clinics and 452,000 practitioners and assistant practitioners as of 2015. It also says that TCM have not only played a role in the prevention and treatment of common, endemic and difficult diseases, but they have made great contributions to the prevention and treatment of deadly diseases like HIV/AIDS and similar illnesses.

According to the paper, the medical services provided by TCM institutions in China increased from 14.3 percent to 15.7 percent from 2009 to 2015. Out-patient expenses per visit and in-patient expenses per capita at public TCM hospitals were 11.5 percent and 24 percent lower than those at general public hospitals, respectively. Thus, the TCM was instrumental in contributing more in services in relation to the resources it is entitled to. It highlights their importance in addressing medical problems at a lower cost.

Apart from services, another aspect of TCM is the rapid increase in the manufacturing of the TCM drugs and related industries. The white paper says that 60,000 TCM and ethnic minority medical drugs have been approved and 2,088 pharmaceutical enterprises that have been approved by the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) of Medical Products, are currently manufacturing Chinese patented medicines.

Furthermore it says that in 2015, the total output value of the TCM pharmaceutical industry was 786.6 billion yuan (114.21 billion U.S. dollars), accounting for 28.55 percent of the total value generated by the country's pharmaceutical industry, and is becoming a new source of growth in China's economy.

After highlighting the role of TCM in the national healthcare system, the white paper rightly points out that promotion of traditional medicine is part of a national strategy linked with national health policy. The CPC Central Committee and the State Council issued the Outline of the Healthy China 2030 Plan, a guide to improving the health of the Chinese people in the coming 15 years.

It is interesting to note that TCM is also becoming popular as a complementary alternative medicine not only in China but also in Europe, North America and several places in Asia. The white paper also recognizes the role of TCM in the world. It says that TCM has spread to 183 countries and regions around the world.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 103 member states have given approval to the practice of acupuncture and moxibustion, 29 have enacted special statutes on traditional medicine, and 18 have included acupuncture and moxibustion treatment in their medical insurance provisions.

The issuance of the white paper about the role, scope and importance of TCM is official acknowledgement of the role of traditional medical practices in modern healthcare. It is also an expression of commitment to extend the official patronage to a way of treatment, which is popular and based on experience and conviction.

Sajjad Malik is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:

http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/SajjadMalik.htm

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.