The Statute of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in China
Abstract
This commentary discusses the significance and improvement of the drafted regulation on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) proposed by the Chinese government. The draft regulation is significant in emphasizing the need of evidence-based scientific and evaluation research of TCM; guiding the design of deliverable and high-quality TCM healthcare service to urban as well as rural communities in China; and confirming the scientific value of TCM. However, a few sections in the draft need to be readdressed and spelled out. Pharmaceutical formulae and medicine production shall require license and certification; experienced TCM professionals should be invited to teach and evaluated by students to substitute the “master-to-apprentice” training; specific plans that lead to qualitative change of TCM and legal liability related to TCM practice need to be elaborated; and the consequence of violation of the regulation shall be specified.References
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