For practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine, 2017 holds extraordinary significance. In that year, the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Traditional Chinese Medicine was officially enacted, thereby providing “national treasure” status with the backing of national legislation.

Over the past three years, the Law on Traditional Chinese Medicine has permeated every aspect of TCM practitioners’ work and daily life. What lessons can be drawn from the achievements of the past three years, and how should we further deepen the implementation of this law? At the expert symposium marking the third anniversary of the enactment of the Law on Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People’s Republic of China, hosted by the China Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine, participating experts engaged in lively discussions.

At present, more than 17,000 clinics have been filed nationwide, representing a 21.3% increase compared with 2017. In 20 provinces across the country, the first round of examinations for assessing the qualifications of practitioners with demonstrated expertise in TCM medical techniques has been completed, while four provinces have already launched the second round, with a total of 3,787 individuals passing the assessments. Furthermore, drug regulatory authorities in over 20 provinces have issued detailed implementation rules for the filing of traditional Chinese medicine preparations within their jurisdictions, resulting in the filing of more than 4,000 such preparations. Through this series of vivid statistics, we can clearly see the remarkable achievements made in implementing the Law on Traditional Chinese Medicine, as well as the unwavering determination and boldness demonstrated at all levels of government nationwide in promoting and enforcing this law.

To implement the Law on Traditional Chinese Medicine, the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine has actively coordinated with relevant departments of the State Council to formulate and refine supporting regulations, promoted the revision of local regulations on TCM, conducted a survey on the implementation of the Law in collaboration with the Education, Science, Culture, Health and Sports Committee of the National People’s Congress, and, in joint efforts with the National Health Commission, organized tiered and phased study and training programs on the Law.

“The robust, top-down impetus has dramatically unleashed the vitality and potential of traditional Chinese medicine,” said Zhang Boli, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and president of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. He noted that the thorough implementation of the Law on Traditional Chinese Medicine has ushered in a period of vigorous growth across the entire industry, significantly enhancing the overall level of TCM diagnosis and treatment as well as service capabilities. Moreover, the value of TCM has been fully demonstrated in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, making outstanding contributions to safeguarding public health.

Huang Luqi, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and President of the China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, deeply appreciates the significance of implementing the Law on Traditional Chinese Medicine. He explained that Article 30 of the law stipulates: “For compound traditional Chinese medicine preparations derived from time-honored classic prescriptions that meet the conditions prescribed by the state, applicants may submit only non-clinical safety study data when applying for a drug approval number.” “This provision underscores the need to align the approval process for new traditional Chinese medicines with the inherent principles and characteristics of TCM,” said Huang Luqi. He added that registration of products based on ancient classic prescriptions is now gradually being brought onto a well-structured track, and several such formulas developed during the fight against COVID-19 have already entered the approval process in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Law on Traditional Chinese Medicine. Huang Luqi expressed his hope that the thorough implementation of the law will help establish a new system for the registration and review of traditional Chinese medicines that integrates TCM theory, practical experience in human use, and clinical trials. “This represents a major positive development for the advancement of TCM and will significantly enhance its contribution to and visibility within the economy and society,” he concluded.

“While we should recognize our achievements, we must also acknowledge the problems that still persist.” Wang Qi, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and a Master of Traditional Chinese Medicine, noted that the Law on Traditional Chinese Medicine dedicates an entire chapter to the cultivation of TCM talent, mandating adherence to the principles governing the development of TCM professionals and the establishment of an education system tailored to the unique characteristics of TCM. Yet at present, significant shortcomings remain across the board—ranging from curriculum design in TCM institutions to the development of TCM education evaluation systems, from the exploration of heritage-based teaching models to the fostering of clinical competence in TCM. Consequently, determining which educational system is most conducive to the growth of TCM talent is a question that warrants thorough and sustained reflection.

Xu Qingfeng, Deputy Director of the Guangdong Provincial Health Commission and Director of the Guangdong Provincial Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, pointed out that Article 5 of the Law on Traditional Chinese Medicine stipulates: “The TCM administrative departments of people’s governments at or above the county level are responsible for TCM administration within their respective jurisdictions. Other relevant departments of people’s governments at or above the county level shall, within the scope of their respective functions, be responsible for work related to TCM administration.” In practice, however, the problem of fragmented administrative functions has yet to be fundamentally resolved. The phenomenon of “nine dragons controlling the water” is widespread in TCM administration across the country, with multiple agencies issuing policies and directives, making it difficult to achieve coordinated efforts and severely hindering the development of TCM at all levels.

How can we address weaknesses and strengthen areas of deficiency so that the effective implementation of the Law on Traditional Chinese Medicine serves as a powerful driving force for the inheritance, innovation, and development of TCM? Experts at the conference unanimously agreed that it is essential to enhance high-level leadership, conduct coordinated planning, take proactive measures, and open up new frontiers in the rule-of-law development of TCM.

In addressing the governance challenges facing traditional Chinese medicine, Xu Qingfeng recommends establishing and improving a system of leading groups for TCM work at all levels, coordinating relevant departments to jointly advance TCM development planning, standard-setting, quality oversight, and other related tasks, thereby forging a robust synergy that promotes the high-quality development of the TCM sector and industry.

“High-level, coordinated planning of TCM work by the government is the key to resolving management challenges,” Zhang Boli stated. Article 4 of the Law on Traditional Chinese Medicine stipulates that “People’s governments at or above the county level shall incorporate TCM development into national economic and social development plans, establish and improve the TCM management system, and promote the coordinated development of TCM.” Article 47 further provides that “People’s governments at or above the county level shall offer policy support and institutional guarantees for the development of TCM and include funding for TCM development in their respective fiscal budgets.” Both provisions call on Party committees and governments at all levels to take proactive measures and accord high priority to TCM work; however, implementation remains uneven across regions. To overcome the difficulties in TCM management, local Party committees and governments must strengthen overall coordination and pool resources and efforts.

Only high-level impetus can streamline management mechanisms, and only effective management can advance educational reform. Wang Qi argues that addressing the challenge of cultivating TCM talent requires reforming TCM education—reform must focus on living, dynamic transmission, developing replicable models of inheritance, adjusting the proportion of TCM courses in TCM institutions of higher learning, strengthening TCM thinking and clinical competence, and establishing a teaching-quality evaluation system that aligns with the inherent principles of TCM.

“The development of the traditional Chinese medicine industry also requires top-down policy support,” said Xiao Wei, Vice President of the China Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Chairman of Jiangsu Kangyuan Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. He emphasized that innovation is the lifeblood of the TCM industry, with the research and development of new TCM drugs and the secondary development of marketed products representing the key priorities for the sector’s future. He expressed hope that the thorough implementation of the TCM Law will create favorable conditions for the industry’s continued growth.

Over three years of dedicated effort, the TCM Law has been effectively implemented with remarkable results. Today, under the keen attention of the Party and the state, the entire TCM sector is stepping forward with greater vigor and proactiveness, ushering in a new phase in the rule-of-law development of TCM and achieving even more outstanding accomplishments.