Chinese Medicine Legislation in PRC

The drafting of “Chinese Medicine Law” in China is in progress and has been included in the annual legislation programme of the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council, confirmed Mr. Wang GuoQiang, Vice Minister of Health and Director of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (SATCM) in the 11th National People’s Congress (NPC) cum Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).  The draft will be submitted to the NPC for review in due course.

Sources reviewed that the draft“Chinese Medicine Law”  (CM Law) would include the designation of Chinese Medicine Day, regulation and registration of Chinese medicine (CM) practitioners and Chinese medicine education.  Representatives of the NPC and CPPCC expressed concerns on the legislation, and urged for the soonest implementation of the new law.  The new law would help establish an effective CM management system which would in turn facilitate the sustainable development of CM.  Given the fact that laws governing traditional medicine have been passed / in force in many countries, the need for CM legislation in China is becoming more imminent.  It is also one of the indispensable measures to uphold the leading position of CM in traditional medicines.   

Representatives of NPC and CPPCC believed that government should kick off CM legislation as soon as possible.  Among others, the new law should address the issues of accreditation of CM professionals, preservation of CM natural resources, prohibition of excessive reaping of CM raw materials (including agriculture, forestry, cultivation, manufacturing and etc).  It is equally important to promote CM via various channels to eliminate all kinds misinterpretations held by the public.  Representatives also pressed to incorporate CM into the national medical and healthcare system, in which CM would have an important role to play.  Relevant governments were required to set up coordination mechanisms and strengthen CM administration through better planning and implementation.

Mainland CM industry welcomed the news with high expectation.  Pharmaceutical companies shared the view that the CM Law should encourage and support CM innovation and re-shape the market currently dominated by western medicine.  Specific measures should include the setting-up of CM regulatory system, favorable policy, government investment in CM R&D as well as financial subsidy.  They also called for national medical insurance to cover expenses on CM drugs.  Although some of CM products are listed in medical insurance coverage plans, the number is far from enough.  Moreover, protection of CM intellectual property (IP) is also considered a key element of the CM Law.  A well-established IP protection system will further advance the R&D and clinical application of CM. 

Dr. Yao Nai Li, a veteran CM practitioner with solid clinical experience, remarked that although the price of CM products were relatively cheaper, its exclusion from insurance coverage would  inevitably increase the burden of patients and limit the application of CM.  The inclusion of more CM medical services into medical insurance is vital to support the continuous development of CM and other traditional folk medicines

Chronology of Chinese Medicine Legislation

Sources:
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