The National Health Commission held a press conference to introduce the situation regarding the Fourth China (Gansu) Traditional Chinese Medicine Industry Expo and answered media questions.
A reporter asked at the conference how the National Health Commission will support the development of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), particularly what specific measures and plans are in place for the TCM industry.
Zhi Guixin, Chief Inspector of the Planning Department of the National Health Commission, introduced that the TCM cause is an important part of the health service development. The National Health Commission continues to integrate the revitalization of TCM into the entire process of planning, construction, and development, promoting high-quality development of the TCM cause.
Firstly, leverage the unique advantages of TCM to promote its inheritance and innovation. In line with the principle of equal emphasis on TCM and Western medicine, implement the “14th Five-Year Plan for National Health”, further carry out major projects for the revitalization and development of TCM, implement the TCM health promotion action, fully utilize the unique advantages and role of TCM in preventing disease, promote the upgrade of the TCM preventive health project, consolidate the foundation for high-quality development of TCM, promote TCM scientific and technological innovation, and further play the important role of the TCM cause in building a healthy China.
Secondly, optimize and strengthen the TCM industry to drive steady economic development. Focus on new health products like TCM health preservation, push eligible artificial intelligence products into clinical trials, advance the manufacturing of health products; encourage the provision of commercial health insurance around services like TCM prevention of disease; continuously improve the environment for the development of the TCM industry, promote rapid development of the TCM industry; guide some poverty-stricken counties to adopt medicinal herb planting as a project or dominant industry for poverty alleviation and income increase, make the TCM industry an important driver for consolidating the achievements of rural revitalization and increasing farmers' income; promote the implementation of key technology equipment projects for modernizing TCM, improve the technical equipment level, industrial innovation capability, and industrialization level of TCM, providing support and guarantee for scientific research and industrial development.
Thirdly, increase investment support and accelerate the construction of TCM “highlands”. Since the “14th Five-Year Plan”, the National Health Commission has actively coordinated with the National Development and Reform Commission to allocate over 19 billion yuan from the central budget to support the construction of TCM medical institutions such as national regional medical centers of traditional Chinese medicine, national TCM heritage and innovation centers, TCM epidemic prevention bases, hospitals with both TCM and Western medicine cooperation, and hospitals focusing on TCM characteristics. This accelerates the expansion of quality medical resources and balanced regional distribution, allowing the public to enjoy accessible, continuous preventive, treatment, rehabilitation, and health promotion services nearby, thus enhancing the people's sense of gain from TCM services.