The modernization of traditional Chinese medicine and the
manufacture of bio-pharmaceuticals will become key development
areas in China's medical science sector, according to a new policy
issued Wednesday.
The Medical Science and Technology Policy jointly released by the
Ministry of Science and Technology, the State Economic and Trade
Commission and the State Administration of Traditional Chinese
Medicine analyses the status and challenges of the Chinese medical
industry.
The policy makes clear the major tasks and development direction of
the medical science sector, and calls for introduction of advanced
technology to promote the modernization of research, development
and techniques for the production of traditional Chinese medicine.
Information technology will be used to establish a creation system
for traditional Chinese medicine.
Developing gene technology, which represents the future of
biological technology, is another important task for the future of
the medical industry, according to the policy.
Since the 1980s, the world medical industry has grown at an average
annual rate of eight percent, becoming one of key fields of global
scientific and economic competition.
He
Xingdong, an official with the State Administration of Traditional
Chinese Medicine, said medical science and technology and the
industry in China have achieved great progress over the past two
decades.
The total output value of the medical industry grew by nearly 18
percent year-on-year, and the industry has become one of the
fastest growing industries in China, the official said.
Shi Dinghuan, spokesman of the Ministry of Science and Technology,
said the medical science and technology policy would play a
positive role in solving the problems faced by China's medical
industry and further promote its modernization.
(Xinhua News
Agency September 19, 2002)