China's top legislature on Sunday adopted a law on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with the aim of giving the practice a bigger role in the medical system.
The Law on Traditional Chinese Medicine was approved at the end of a seven-day session of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee.
Huang Wei, deputy director of the NPC Standing Committee commission for legislative affairs. /NPC Photo
Huang Wei, Deputy Director of the NPC Standing Committee commission for legislative affairs, said the law, which is taking effect on July 1, is a significant step in the development of TCM.
According to the new law, governments at county-level and above must set up TCM institutions in public-funded general hospitals and mother and child care centers. Private investment will be encouraged in these institutions.
Herbs are an important pillar of Traditional Chinese Medicine /CFP Photo
All TCM practitioners must pass tests. Meanwhile apprentices and previously unlicensed specialists with considerable medical experience may only begin practice when they gather recommendations from at least two qualified practitioners and pass relevant tests.
With a history of more than 2,000 years, TCM is seen by many as a national treasure in China for its unique theories and practices, such as herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage and dietetics.
Cupping therapy is also part of Traditional Chinese Medicine. /CFP Photo
In 2015, Tu Youyou won the Nobel Medicine Prize for her work using artemisinin, a herb extract, to treat malaria.
Still, there exists considerable skepticism about TCM in the face of Western medicine, particularly over the former's training and funding and its aversion to using modern clinical tests. Animal-rights activists have also raised questions.
To this end, the new law said China puts TCM and Western medicine on equal footing, with better training for TCM professionals. TCM and Western medicine should learn from each other and complement each other.
2015 Nobel Medicine Prize winner Tu Youyou leaves the stage after receiving the prize during the award ceremony at the Stockholm Concert Hall on December 10, 2015. /CFP Photo
The state will support TCM research and development and protect TCM's intellectual property, according to the law.
Special protection will be given to TCM formulas that are considered state secrets, it said.
The use of technology and the expansion of TCM in dealing with emergency public health incidents and diseases prevention and control should be increased.
The state will protect medical resources, including the protection and breeding of rare or endangered wildlife, the law said.
The law went on to pledge enhanced supervision of raw TCM materials, banning the use of toxic pesticides.
CFP Photo
International exchanges and cooperation on TCM should expand.
According to the World Health Organization, 103 member states have approved the practice of acupuncture and moxibustion, 29 have statutes on traditional medicine, and 18 have included acupuncture and moxibustion in medical insurance provisions.
"The new law on traditional Chinese medicine will improve global TCM influence, and give a boost to China's soft power," Huang said.
(Adapted from an article published on Xinhua)
