On September 12, 2023, during a press briefing hosted by the State Council Information Office in Beijing, Yu Yanhong, a member of the National Health Commission (NHC) and the head of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, addressed the increasing recognition and influence of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). He pointed out that TCM is becoming a cultural cornerstone for the public in their health promotion efforts.
When asked about the advancements in TCM since the onset of China’s 14th Five-Year Plan, Yu reported that evaluations indicate that 3 out of 15 major development goals have already been achieved ahead of schedule, with the remainder on track for timely completion.
Yu shared insights into the significant progress in TCM service capabilities, noting that the focus has been on both enhancing strengths and addressing shortcomings. There have been substantial efforts to establish high-level TCM hospitals and create national medical centers dedicated to TCM, including 27 regional medical center projects and 35 national TCM epidemic prevention bases. Furthermore, 1,158 TCM specialty departments have been recognized to improve the distribution and quality of medical services.
Support has been extended to 130 municipal hospitals to develop TCM specialty facilities and to more than 1,000 county-level TCM hospitals in establishing specialized centers. Consequently, TCM facilities are now nearly ubiquitous in community health service centers and town hospitals, leading to the establishment of a high-quality and efficient TCM service system. In 2023, China boasted 93,000 TCM medical institutions, with total patient visits reaching 1.54 billion—marking increases of 29.2% and 67.4% respectively compared to 2022.
Yu also highlighted advances in TCM education and the cultivation of technological talent. Collaborative initiatives in medical education have led to the establishment of the China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine in partnership with graduate schools and the development of 321 high-level TCM disciplines, thereby facilitating educational reform and high-quality development.
Regarding technological innovation, he noted that efforts have focused on clarifying and demonstrating the efficacy of TCM. Significant strides have been made in creating scientific innovation platforms, supported by a national key R&D program aimed at the “Modernization of TCM.” This includes the establishment of seven national key laboratories and two national clinical medicine centers for TCM, in addition to 46 National Centers for TCM Heritage and Innovation. The China TCM Evidence-Based Medicine Center has emerged as a primary registration platform for WHO’s international traditional medicine clinical trials and has released guidelines for TCM treatments related to specific conditions and distinctive herbal products.
Yu also touched on efforts to nurture a talent pipeline within the TCM sector, which has seen the emergence of five new academicians and the recognition of 30 “National Masters of Traditional Medicine” along with 101 distinguished TCM practitioners since the beginning of the 14th Five-Year Plan. As of last year, China had a total of 868,000 licensed TCM practitioners, including assistant doctors.
Finally, Yu emphasized that the recognition and influence of TCM are on the rise. Events like the “China TCM Conference” have attracted significant attention, and TCM is increasingly resonating with younger demographics. TCM has become a vital part of China’s diplomatic efforts, with 30 high-quality overseas TCM centers established. These initiatives have been included in the agenda of the China-Central Asia summit, fostering connections among various governments. Ultimately, TCM is evolving into a key element in promoting a shared global health community.
