Government adviser warns against blind modernization of Chinese medicine

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Government adviser warns against " blind modernization " of Chinese medicine

 

 

 

China should wait no further to take " effective measures " to protect the

centuries-old heritage of traditional Chinese medicine from " being blindly

modernized " , said a senior medical expert Wednesday.

 

Wang Xudong, a professor with the Nanjing University of Traditional

, made the remarks while addressing a full meeting of the third

annual session of the Tenth CPPCC (Chinese People's Political Consultative

Conference) National Committee.

 

Although several subjects such as acupuncture were booming in recent

years, the traditional Chinese medicine as a whole failed to be " further

developed and advanced " , said Wang, a member of the CPPCC National Committee.

 

" Presently, the most urgent thing to do is to put the traditional iatric

art under proper protection, " said he.

 

Wang showed great concerns about the negative influences exerted by the

trend of " modernizing the traditional Chinese medicine in the western way " .

 

" It is ridiculous that a considerable number of traditional Chinese medics

can conduct cellular, molecular and genic researches but are unable to prescribe

by using Chinese herbs, " noted Wang.

 

The medical expert also cited the lack of proper protection on the

intellectual property rights of traditional Chinese medical prescriptions,

techniques and experiences as a major blame for the currently " unsatisfactory "

situation of the industry.

 

Statistics show that the world's annual trade of traditional Chinese

medicine totals 40 billion US dollars. China only accounts for 3 to 6 percent of

the total, largely lagging behind the 80 percent scored by Japan and the

Republic of Korea (ROK), two obvious beneficiaries of the traditional Chinese

medical roots.

 

The expert also referred to the " brain drain " in the industry as a

chronical headache, characterized by a wave of traditional Chinese medics either

seeking to practice abroad or switching to western medicine.

 

As one of China's most original academic disciplines, traditional Chinese

medicine should be better guarded by a special national strategy and protected

by laws and regulations, said Wang.

 

 

 

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