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China tightens

traditional medicine

trading

BEIJING: Beijing unveiled strict criteria for traditional Chinese medicine training on Wednesday, requiring foreigners studying ancient healing methods in China to pass the same tests as their Chinese counterparts.

The health ministry rules, in addition to codifying standards for foreigners seeking certification to practise Chinese medicine, clamp down on schools offering sub-standard training or shortcuts to diplomas in a rush to make money.

"Since China is the homeland of traditional Chinese medicine, we are obligated to do more in the way of personnel training, setting various criteria, developing new medicaments and invigorating academic activities," Deputy Minister of Public Health Zhang Wenkang told a news conference.

Zhang, who is also director of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, said since the practice of traditional Chinese healing overseas affects public health, China was responsible for ensuring the quality of training.

"If attention is not paid to the quality of the education and to the effect of training, we will act counter to our aims and goals" of promoting Chinese medicine worldwide, Zhang said.

Of China's 30 colleges and universities that teach traditional Chinese medicine and pharmacology, 20 are authorised to enroll foreigners and are now teaching some 4,300 students from more than 20 countries, he said.

Traditional Chinese medicine and pharmacology includes treatments using some 13,000 types of herbal and animal medicines, acupuncture, massage and moxibustion -- the burning of a cauterising agent on the skin to clear irritations.

Wednesday's directive consolidates controls over an industry that had attracted schools of dubious merit which charged high fees to foreigners before granting them certificates that were not valid in China or elsewhere, health officials said.

"There have been one or two universities and colleges that have disregarded the regulations of formal schooling," read the edict, citing examples of improper enrollment and unauthorised shortening of courses.

"Their actions damaged the serious nature of our formal schooling, adversely affecting the reputation of traditional Chinese medicine and pharmacology education," said the edict.

Under the health ministry directive, foreign students seeking a traditional medicine degree in China have to put in the same amount of classroom time and pass the same examination as their Chinese counterparts, the decree states.

For traditional Chinese medicine, including acupuncture, students must complete five years of schooling, including one year of clinical training. For students of Chinese pharmacology, the requirements are four years of classes and six months of clinical practice.

The foreign students, like their Chinese counterparts, would have to sit for an exacting examination of both theory and clinical practice before receiving a diploma.

Health officials have mounted an overall effort to improve doctor education and care for China's 1.2 billion people.-Reuter