Home / Health / China Expands TCM in Primary Healthcare
China Expands TCM in Primary Healthcare
25 Mar
Summary
- Guidelines aim to standardize TCM at township health centers and community clinics.
- Institutions must offer six categories and 10 types of TCM techniques.
- TCM practitioners will comprise at least 20 percent of doctors at facilities.

China has introduced new guidelines to broaden and standardize traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) services at local health centers. Released jointly by national health authorities, these directives aim to elevate primary healthcare and foster high-quality development of TCM at the grassroots level.
Under the new regulations, primary healthcare institutions are required to provide a minimum of six categories and ten types of TCM treatment methods, including acupuncture and cupping. They must also stock at least 80 types of Chinese patent medicines and 300 types of decoction pieces.
The guidelines emphasize the expanded use of TCM for managing chronic conditions like hypertension and diabetes, promoting integrated services for prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation. A key stipulation is that TCM practitioners will need to account for at least 20 percent of the medical staff at these facilities.




