Members of the Education, Science, Culture and Public Health
Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) on Friday called
for a law to enshrine the role of traditional Chinese medicine
(TCM).
The law would call on the central and local governments to
improve the structure of a TCM health care system and promote
education and scientific study of TCM.
A few days ago, an online petition initiated by a professor with
the Central South University suggested that Chinese hospitals
should only prescribe western medicine s.
The proposal has stirred heated debate among Chinese people,
with opponents labeling it ridiculous and ignorant.
The central government has announced that more support will be
given to bolster the development of TCM to set up a service network
covering both urban and rural areas by 2010.
The committee members at Friday's workshop urged the State
Council to include the law on TCM in their lawmaking plans.
Earlier reports show that TCM departments in China receive
nearly 300 million visits a year.
The TCM industry, with a total production value of 81.03 billion
yuan (US$10.1 billion), accounted for a quarter of China's overall
medical industry in 2005.
The World Health Organization statistics show that 54 countries
in the world have formulated laws on traditional medical
science.
(Xinhua News Agency October 21, 2006)