Draft law to strengthen TCM’s role in China’s medical system

%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3EChina%27s%20top%20legislature%20began%20to%20read%20the%20Law%20on%20Traditional%20Chinese%20Medicine%20%28TCM%29%20on%20Monday%2C%20which%20calls%20for%20a%20strengthened%20role%20of%20TCM%20in%20China%27s%20health%20care%20system.%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3EThe%20draft%20law%20was%20passed%20earlier%20this%20month%20by%20the%20State%20Council%20and%20was%20submitted%20to%20the%20bimonthly%20session%20of%20the%20National%20People%27s%20Congress%20%28NPC%29%20Standing%20Committee%20this%20week.%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3EWang%20Guoqiang%2C%20director%20of%20the%20State%20Administration%20of%20TCM%2C%20said%20Monday%20morning%20at%20the%20session%20that%20the%20draft%20law%20will%20support%20and%20exert%20TCM%27s%20role%20in%20the%20whole%20medical%20system%2C%20bringing%20it%20into%20the%20country%27s%20free-of-charge%20basic%20public%20health%20services%20program.%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3EThe%20draft%20law%20also%20vows%20to%20expand%20TCM%27s%20role%20in%20dealing%20with%20emergency%20public%20health%20incidents%20and%20diseases%20prevention%20and%20controls%2C%20strengthening%20policy%20support%20for%20TCM%2C%20making%20policies%20to%20allow%20TCM%20medical%20fees%20to%20be%20covered%20by%20basic%20medical%20insurance%20schemes.%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3EThe%20draft%20laws%20calls%20for%20maintaining%20the%20characteristics%20of%20TCM%2C%20using%20TCM%20methodologies%20to%20provide%20health%20services%2C%20improving%20the%20quality%20of%20TCM%20materials%20and%20encouraging%20medical%20institutions%20to%20use%20TCM%20preparations.%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3EThe%20draft%20law%20aims%20to%20address%20the%20current%20problems%20faced%20by%20TCM%2C%20including%20lack%20of%20capability%20and%20ability%20to%20adapt%20to%20the%20current%20personnel%20and%20drug%20system%2C%20Wang%20said.%20Passing%20of%20TCM%20theories%20and%20skills%20to%20a%20younger%20generation%20is%20also%20facing%20challenges.%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3ETCM%20has%20gained%20public%20attention%20recently%20after%20pharmacist%20Tu%20Youyou%20was%20awarded%20the%202015%20Nobel%20Prize%20in%20Physiology%20or%20Medicine%20for%20her%20work%20using%20artemisinin%20to%20treat%20malaria%20based%20on%20a%20traditional%20Chinese%20herb%20treatment.%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3EThe%20NPC%20Education%2C%20Science%2C%20Culture%20and%20Public%20Health%20Committee%20said%20in%20a%20report%20last%20week%20that%20legislation%20for%20TCM%20has%20become%20a%20hotspot%20in%20their%20work%2C%20with%20dozens%20of%20bills%20and%20suggestions%20made%20by%20NPC%20deputies.%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3EThe%20committee%20said%20the%20way%20to%20further%20support%20TCM%20services%20and%20ensure%20TCM%20clinics%27%20equal%20status%20compared%20to%20other%20clinics.%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3E%3CBR%3E%28China%20Daily%29%3CBR%3E%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E