China's Ministry of Science and Technology has joined other departments, including the Ministry of Health, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and State Food and Drug Administration, to promulgate the "Outline of Traditional Chinese Medicine Innovation and Development Plan (2006-2020)".
Liu Yanhua, vice minister of science and technology, made the announcement on behalf of all 16 departments.
This new plan makes general arrangement and rational layout for TCM innovation and development to guide the innovation efforts at the national level in China and to modernize and globalize the traditional Chinese medicine sector.
Addressing the characteristics of TCM, its developing trend and major problems, the Outline puts forward four basic principles: equal attention to impartation and innovation; balanced development of treatment and medicine; interaction of modernization and globalization; and integration of multiple disciplines.
The document consists of background analysis, guiding theory, basic principles and strategic target, tasks, priorities and policies and will be distributed soon to TCM businesses.