The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has broad prospects and
huge potentials in its development, Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi said?in Beijing?on
Thursday.
Wu made the remarks at the 2008 National Conference on the TCM
Work. "I'm very confident of the development of traditional Chinese
medicine," she said.
According to the official, China has 3,072 TCM hospitals with
over 330,000 beds, while most of general hospitals in the country
have opened TCM departments.
China now has 1,500 TCM companies, manufacturing more than 9,000
kinds of Chinese medicine products.
The vice premier has been widely known as "China's Iron Lady"
and also as a strong supporter of the revival of the TCM, which has
been under debate among some Chinese experts and ordinaries.
The debate peaked in 2006, when a university professor posted an
article online to collect signatures from those who have supported
the abolishing of traditional Chinese medicine, and he demanded an
official ban on the practice of TCM within five years.
Traditional Chinese medicine is regarded as one of the main
legacies of the Chinese civilization.
Traditionally, Chinese doctors judge patients by observing the
appearance of the patients, questioning them, feeling their pulse,
and writing prescriptions based on experience and ancient
prescriptions. Most of the ingredients in Chinese medicine are
herbs.
(Xinhua News Agency January 25, 2008)
