Macau Monthly:

Chinese herbs are the material foundation for inheriting TCM, and the vehicle for leveraging advantages of TCM. In the past 10 years, how has Chinese medicine developed in China? What are the plans for the future? Thank you.

Li Bin:

TCM matters a lot. Let us invite Mr. Qin Huaijin, vice-commissioner of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, to answer your questions. 

Qin Huaijin:

Thank you for your questions. The past decade was the best period for the development of TCM since the founding of the People's Republic of China. As you mentioned, Chinese herbs lay the material foundation for TCM's inheritance and innovative development. With the coordinated efforts of relevant departments, Chinese herbs have seen sound momentum in industrial development, quality improvement, and technological innovation. 

First, the Chinese herb industry has experienced rapid development. National key laboratories, the National Engineering Research Center and other national platforms have deepened cooperation involving industries, universities and research institutes. The National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the National Development and Reform Commission jointly launched a campaign to standardize traditional Chinese herbs and improve quality supervision across the whole production chain. Currently, the industrial system based on agriculture and connected by commerce with the industry as the mainstay has been improved, showing strong impetus. According to statistics from the national medicinal sector, the revenue of the Chinese herbs industry registered 700 billion yuan in 2021, up from 515.6 billion yuan in 2012. 

Second, the quality of Chinese herbs has improved. The fourth national census on Chinese herbs presented a clear picture of Chinese herbs resources. Breakthroughs have been made in research on homegrown herbs and alternatives, with ecological planting in full swing. The herb tracing system has been more comprehensively applied. Several departments jointly issued a plan to construct production bases of fine medicinal material and a guideline for the quality review of herb production. They also stepped up management at the source. The drug spot check report in 2021 showed that 98% of prepared TCM samples were up to standard. 

The third is the continuous deepening of scientific and technological innovation of TCM. The National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Ministry of Science and Technology and other national departments have continued to increase spending on science and technology in this regard, and strengthened research into genuine medicinal materials, TCM processing, quality assurance, and new drug research and development. We have been actively cooperating with the National Medical Products Administration to reform and improve the TCM evaluation and approval system that conforms to the TCM laws, and to establish a "three-in-one" evidence-based review system of TCM theory, human experience and clinical trials, and have further stimulated the vitality of scientific and technological innovation in TCM.

Next, the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine will conscientiously implement the requirements of the 14th Five-Year Plan for the Development of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the deployment of the major project for the development of TCM, and strengthen cooperation with relevant departments. Focusing on the complete process of TCM cultivation, research and development, production and use, we will give full play to the leading role of scientific and technological support, promote improvements in the quality of TCM and deepen evidence-based research so as to better demonstrate the clinical value of TCM and meet the people's medication needs. Thank you.