When the epidemic struck, he stepped up to the challenge at a critical moment, defying his advanced age to lead the frontline response. Even after undergoing gallbladder removal in Wuhan, he persevered on the front lines. On the “battlefield” of pandemic control, he took the lead, guiding the early and comprehensive integration of traditional Chinese medicine into the treatment of COVID-19, achieving remarkable clinical efficacy and delivering outstanding results that made a significant contribution to epidemic prevention and control. He is none other than the “People’s Hero”—Zhang Boli.

“The people are the true heroes in the fight against the epidemic.” Moved by the lofty honor bestowed upon him by the Party and the state, Zhang Boli said, “In this battle to contain and combat COVID-19, I have merely done what any physician should do. In peacetime, the fact that medical workers can be awarded the national honorary title of ‘People’s Hero’ is a clear testament to the Party and the state’s high regard for and heartfelt care toward the vast ranks of medical professionals. I am simply standing in for all healthcare workers and receiving this recognition on their behalf.”

“When the nation faces a public health crisis, doctors are soldiers. I would rather let myself down than fail the people!” This was the solemn vow Zhang Boli made 17 years ago during the fight against SARS; and with the outbreak of COVID-19, the 72-year-old “veteran of the medical community” once again lived up to that promise.

In the Spring Festival of the Year of Gengzi, the COVID-19 pandemic struck unexpectedly. On January 27, Zhang Boli, as a member of the expert panel under the Central Guidance Group for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, flew from the coast of the Bohai Sea to Wuhan. The sudden outbreak of COVID-19 was an urgent public health emergency, with neither prior experience nor any specific effective treatment at hand. Drawing on past experience and the specific conditions of Wuhan’s hospitals, Zhang Boli decisively proposed that the four categories of patients—those with suspected cases, fever, close contacts, and confirmed cases—should be centrally isolated and treated according to their respective classifications: “Isolation alone without treatment achieves only half the success. We must adopt a ‘broad-based traditional Chinese medicine intervention,’ ensuring that all individuals in centralized isolation receive TCM decoctions designed to dispel damp-toxin pathogens. This approach not only prevents missed opportunities for timely treatment but also helps to reassure and calm patients.” With strict isolation combined with widespread TCM administration, the number of confirmed cases among these four groups dropped markedly, effectively curbing the spread of the epidemic.

In Zhang Boli’s view, taking full responsibility for the operation of a makeshift hospital and providing treatment guided by traditional Chinese medicine theory would enable researchers to identify the distinctive therapeutic effects and underlying patterns of TCM, thereby improving clinical guidance. On February 6, with approval from the Central Guidance Group, Zhang Boli led the “national TCM team” into the Jiangxia makeshift hospital, where they employed comprehensive TCM-based therapeutic approaches to treat patients.

From its opening on February 14 to its closure on March 10, the Jiangxia Fangcang Hospital admitted a total of 564 COVID-19 patients, with no cases progressing to severe illness and zero infections or re-positive cases. Subsequently, all other makeshift hospitals were staffed with traditional Chinese medicine experts and began distributing standardized decoctions for clearing lung heat and detoxifying, as well as formulas for dispersing lung qi and eliminating pathogenic factors; the rate of progression to severe illness in these facilities ranged from 2% to 5%, significantly lower than the widely recognized rate of 15% to 20%.

During that period, Zhang Boli, clad in a protective suit emblazoned with the words “Go, Old Zhang!,” spent every day providing clinical guidance, entering isolation wards to examine patients, drafting prescriptions, and conducting rounds throughout the hospital. Despite this round-the-clock, grueling workload, he eventually fell ill.

In the early hours of February 15, Zhang Boli suffered an acute attack of cholecystitis accompanied by excruciating abdominal pain, prompting the head of the Central Guidance Team to order his immediate hospitalization. On the morning of February 19, he underwent a minimally invasive cholecystectomy. Just one or two days after the surgery, he resumed work from his hospital room; and by the third day post-op, he was back on the front lines, pressing ahead without pause.

This experience touched many people, yet Zhang Boli jokingly remarked: “I left my gallbladder in Wuhan—now I truly share a bond of deep trust and mutual support with the city!”

Reflecting on that period of fighting the epidemic, he said: “This is our duty—when a pandemic strikes, medical workers must step up to the front lines. The national honorary title of ‘People’s Hero’ is the highest honor bestowed by the Party and the people upon the entire medical community. I am merely an ordinary member; many of my colleagues have done far more than I have, and regrettably, some have even sacrificed their lives…” At this point, Zhang Boli’s voice choked with emotion.

“With 100,000 in white coats and the plague demon raging for three months, in the city by the river every life is that of a true hero; among the many heroes, only Yan Han stands out. The central government’s strategic planning saves lives, and the whole nation unites as one. Through coordinated efforts between Chinese and Western medicine, prevention and treatment are advanced, and the world’s varying temperatures and climates are brought into clear relief.” This poem, “Qing Ping Le: The People Are Heroes,” was composed by Zhang Boli after he gave an interview, expressing his heartfelt sentiments.

In 1978, Zhang Boli, who had devoted many years to the rigorous study of traditional Chinese medicine, was admitted as a graduate student in the inaugural cohort of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. On ordinary days, he would ride his bicycle, carrying a large medical bag, and tirelessly travel through fields and villages day and night.

“Rural areas suffer from a severe shortage of doctors and medicines, so it’s essential that everyone has access to medical care.” Whenever he sees a patient, Zhang Boli is always full of energy. Over the years, his extensive experience in grassroots medical practice has given him a wealth of clinical expertise. “It is the patients who have nurtured me,” he says. “No matter how arduous the work, my duty and mission are to do everything possible—using the least amount of money—to cure them. Saving lives and alleviating suffering through my medical skills also brings me a profound sense of fulfillment.”

Heaven rewards the diligent—Zhang Boli has achieved numerous accomplishments: leader of the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Expert Group on the Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a nationally renowned TCM physician, president of the China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and a deputy to the National People’s Congress, among others. Despite his many concurrent roles, which have made his schedule increasingly busy, his original commitment—to treat patients, save lives, promote the development of the TCM industry, advance TCM on the global stage, and cultivate TCM talent for the nation—has never wavered.

Expanding the coverage of TCM clinics hinges on cultivating a robust pool of TCM talent. Over nearly two decades as president of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhang Boli has championed an integrated educational philosophy that emphasizes moral character, professional competence, and TCM-based thinking. He has also donated more than RMB 4 million in prize money from various awards to establish the “Yongbo” Scholarship and Aid Fund at the university, which provides support to students who excel academically and demonstrate strong moral integrity as well as those facing financial hardship, enabling them to pursue their studies with peace of mind.

“When seated, they can diagnose and treat patients; when standing, they can deliver lectures; when their eyes are closed, they can reflect and contemplate; and when in the laboratory, they can conduct cutting-edge research.” This is Zhang Boli’s vision for first-rate physicians—and his greatest expectation for his students.

“When I first began studying medicine, my sole aspiration was to become a competent physician. The essential qualities of a good doctor are passion, a commitment to lifelong learning, a sense of responsibility, and selfless dedication—above all, putting patients’ well-being first. Now that I have more experience, it is my duty to give back to my patients and serve them even better,” said Zhang Boli.

Working on the front lines of disease treatment and patient care, Zhang Boli has keenly felt the difficulties people face in accessing medical services at large hospitals, as well as the troubling situation confronting primary-care physicians. During his tenure as a deputy to the National People’s Congress, he has actively lobbied for greater efforts to ensure that medical resources are effectively deployed at the grassroots level—this entails not merely constructing a few new facilities, but, more importantly, strengthening capacity. He has called for accelerating the implementation of a comprehensive general-practice physician training program and ongoing professional development for practicing clinicians, with the aim of raising the clinical competence and improving the remuneration and benefits of general practitioners. “This is the key to alleviating the pressure on large hospitals and addressing the public’s difficulty in obtaining timely medical care,” Zhang Boli stated.

The safety of Chinese medicinal materials and the enhancement of their quality have long been a deep concern for Zhang Boli. “Some Chinese medicinal materials on the market are ‘white and plump,’ yet they fail to deliver therapeutic benefits. The extensive use of pesticides and plant growth regulators during cultivation not only compromises efficacy but also poses risks to patients’ health,” Zhang Boli noted. To ensure patient safety, he emphasized the urgent need to promote standardized and regulated cultivation practices for Chinese medicinal materials, establish a high-quality production system, and vigorously advance the production and oversight of pollution-free Chinese medicinal materials. Among these efforts, the “enterprise–farmer” joint-operation model has proven to be a successful approach; with Zhang Boli’s active involvement, a consortium for the co-construction and shared use of Chinese medicinal material bases was established more than a decade ago.

Guizhou, Guangxi, Gansu, and other economically underdeveloped regions are major production areas for Chinese medicinal materials. “Cultivating medicinal herbs is one of the primary industries driving poverty alleviation in these areas. These regions boast a favorable environment, free from pollution, making them ideally suited for herb cultivation,” said Zhang Boli. He believes that pollution-free production should be closely integrated with targeted poverty alleviation efforts to promote high-quality medicinal herb production as a poverty-reduction initiative. Furthermore, he advocates for an enterprise–farmer management model to transform resource advantages into economic benefits, thereby helping farmers embark on a new path toward poverty eradication and prosperity.

Grassroots medical services have also been a long-standing concern of Zhang Boli. More than a decade ago, he championed and vigorously promoted the establishment of “National Medicine Clinics” within grassroots health care institutions, enabling the public to access traditional Chinese medicine services right at their doorstep. Today, such clinics are becoming increasingly common and are warmly embraced by the community. “The people’s recognition is our greatest honor,” Zhang Boli said.

After returning to Tianjin following the successful containment of the Wuhan COVID-19 outbreak, Zhang Boli has remained on the front lines of routine COVID-19 prevention and control. During this period, he has shared China’s anti-pandemic experience with numerous countries through dozens of virtual conferences held overseas.

“The integration of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine, as well as the combined use of TCM and Western pharmaceuticals, has been a defining feature of China’s COVID-19 response, and it also represents a vivid embodiment of TCM’s commitment to preserving its core essence while embracing innovation. We must translate the original thinking inherent in TCM into groundbreaking innovations, steer TCM onto a path of science-and-technology–driven, innovative development, and play a pivotal role in enhancing the innovation capacity and international competitiveness of the Chinese medicinal materials industry.” As the director of the nation’s first State Key Laboratory for Component-Based Traditional Chinese Medicine within the national TCM system, Zhang Boli has long been dedicated to advancing the inheritance and innovation of TCM.

“Although traditional Chinese medicine is ancient, its underlying principles are by no means outdated; the lag lies in its technologies. By integrating the theoretical strengths of TCM with modern science and technology, we can fully harness its advantages and generate original, groundbreaking achievements,” said Zhang Boli.

Conducting evidence-based clinical evaluations of traditional Chinese medicine, developing the greater TCM health industry, undertaking secondary R&D on time-honored and high-quality TCM products, advocating for the enactment of a Law on Traditional Chinese Medicine, cultivating TCM talent, and formulating international standards for TCM education—over recent years, “veteran TCM practitioner” Zhang Boli has continuously prescribed “new remedies” to advance the development of TCM.

How can a single pill with over 700 years of history—Liuwei Dihuang Wan—be “rejuvenated” through the power of technology? In 2015, the project “Innovative Research and Industrialization of Core Technologies for the Secondary Development of Traditional Chinese Patent Medicines,” led by Zhang Boli, was awarded the First Prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award, imbuing this ancient form of traditional Chinese medicine with modern scientific and technological substance.

“Secondary development can help identify the bioactive constituents of traditional Chinese medicines, determine which components should be retained, which should be discarded, and which need to be rigorously controlled. All of this depends on robust clinical validation and fundamental research,” said Zhang Boli. He noted that although traditional Chinese medicine has a history of more than a thousand years of use, only a small fraction of proprietary Chinese medicinal products have a solid research foundation. As a result, low-level duplication and disorderly competition among Chinese medicinal products are particularly pronounced, and pharmaceutical engineering technologies for Chinese medicine production lag far behind the requirements of modern drug manufacturing.

“Through secondary development, traditional Chinese patent medicines can achieve quality control across the entire pharmaceutical production process—from raw materials to finished dosage forms.” Industry experts commenting on this research note that “small scale, fragmentation, and dispersion” are common challenges facing TCM enterprises. By promoting and implementing a strategy of secondary development for TCM, large product portfolios have been cultivated, industry concentration has increased, and technological upgrading and renewal in the TCM sector have been vigorously advanced. This approach—requiring relatively low investment yet delivering substantial returns—is conducive to adjusting the industrial structure of agriculture and manufacturing and supporting healthcare reform, and thus deserves strong support.

In Zhang Boli’s view, thanks to the support of science and technology, traditional Chinese medicine has gradually gained international recognition in recent years by leveraging its unique strengths. “The internationalization of TCM should not be rushed; first, we must strengthen our internal capabilities. For TCM to go global, establishing standardized practices must come first, and science and technology provide the essential foundation.”

There is a story about a German student that Zhang Boli often recounts. After graduating from a Western medical university, this student developed a deep appreciation for Chinese culture and came to China to study Traditional Chinese Medicine under Zhang Boli as his mentor. Upon returning to Germany, he opened a TCM clinic, treating numerous patients and quickly gaining a local reputation. “Today, this ‘foreign TCM practitioner’ frequently lectures at several European universities, with outstanding results,” Zhang Boli noted. He expressed great satisfaction at seeing TCM go global and gain international recognition, adding that he himself has been an active advocate for the internationalization of TCM.

Today, the world is confronting the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the trajectory of the epidemic this autumn and winter within China is closely watched by the entire nation. In this regard, Zhang Boli believes that China may face a simultaneous surge of COVID-19 and influenza this fall and winter. “However, we are unlikely to see large-scale outbreaks in a single location, with tens of thousands of people falling ill at the same time. What is more likely are small-scale clustered outbreaks or sporadic, isolated cases emerging in multiple regions.”

In the face of a complex situation, Zhang Boli recommends that all localities should make thorough preparations for epidemic prevention and control by dividing cities—or even individual districts—into high-, medium-, and low-risk areas and implementing “targeted,” precision-based防控 measures. At the same time, everyone should take personal responsibility for their own prevention by maintaining good hygiene habits: washing hands frequently, ensuring adequate ventilation, avoiding unnecessary visits to other households, limiting social gatherings, and engaging in regular physical exercise. Only with more proactive and comprehensive preparedness can we effectively meet the potential epidemic risks that may arise in the future.