Core Competency
Lei Jufang: Tibetan medicine should be included in the National Essential Medicines List.
Release time:
2011-03-09 14:17
As of now, Tibet has 23 Tibetan medicinal products included in the National Medical Insurance Catalogue, yet not a single one is listed in the National Essential Medicines List. Lei Jufang, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and Chairwoman of Qizheng Group, feels this is deeply unfair. While traditional Chinese medicines have been included in the National Essential Medicines List, none of the Tibetan medicines have made the cut. She believes that the state should step up its efforts to support the development of ethnic medicines. She said: “As an integral part of the nation’s medical treasure trove, Tibetan medicine and Tibetan pharmaceuticals should go global and contribute to human health. Therefore, I think some Tibetan medicinal products should be added to the National Essential Medicines List.”
According to current regulations, China will establish a system for prioritizing and rational use of essential medicines. All retail pharmacies and medical institutions shall stock and sell national essential medicines to meet patients’ needs. Starting from 2009, all primary-level medical and health institutions run by the government have been required to stock and use essential medicines, and other types of medical institutions must also comply with the regulations regarding the use of essential medicines.
Lei Jufang stated that the exclusion of Tibetan medicine from the National Essential Medicines List has been hindering its development pace. It is reported that currently, only over 300 Tibetan medicinal products are included in the basic medicines list of the Tibet Autonomous Region.