Lei Jufang: Leveraging the Unique Advantages of Ethnic Medicine to Support Health-Based Poverty Alleviation

　　Introduction: Committee Member Lei Jufang stated: Traditional ethnic medicine is the treasure trove of health wisdom and insights accumulated and summarized by all ethnic groups in China through their struggles against disease. It boasts a complete and unique medical science system and plays an important role in preventing and treating diseases, alleviating pain, and improving the quality of human life. In the work of health-based poverty alleviation, we should fully encourage and leverage the role of local traditional medicine as well as the distinctive advantages of ethnic medicine.

　　Lei Jufang, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and Chairwoman of Qizheng Tibetan Medicine, has devoted many years to the development of China’s ethnic medicines. During this year’s Two Sessions, when interviewed by reporters, she stated that ethnic medicine represents the accumulated wisdom and crystallization of health knowledge forged by various ethnic groups in their struggle against disease. It boasts a complete and unique medical scientific system and plays an important role in preventing and treating diseases, alleviating pain, and enhancing the quality of human life. In the work of health-based poverty alleviation, we should fully encourage and leverage the role of local traditional medicine as well as the distinctive advantages of ethnic medicine.

　　“Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, various regions and departments have thoroughly implemented General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important strategic thinking on poverty alleviation and development in the new era. In line with the requirements of targeted poverty alleviation and precise poverty reduction, they have placed health-related poverty alleviation work high on their agendas, continuously intensifying their efforts and achieving positive progress.” According to Committee Member Lei Jufang, since 2012, the central government has allocated a total of 79.4 billion yuan in special central investments to support infrastructure construction at 110,000 health and family planning institutions in impoverished areas, significantly improving healthcare and family planning service conditions in these regions. These funds have been used to address and alleviate issues such as difficulties and high costs of accessing medical care, enabling patients to receive high-tech medical services right at their doorstep. At the same time, the diagnostic and treatment capabilities of hospitals have also been greatly enhanced. However, county-level hospitals still lack strong capacity to treat serious illnesses, resulting in high referral rates outside the county. The burden of preventing and controlling endemic and infectious diseases in impoverished areas remains heavy, and the number of patients with chronic diseases continues to rise year after year, making the problems of falling into poverty due to illness and relapsing into poverty due to illness particularly prominent.

　　Committee Member Lei Jufang proposed the following:

　　First, leveraging the distinctive features of traditional ethnic medicine in health poverty alleviation can help reduce the financial burden on patients and ease the burden on social security systems. For instance, in treating rheumatic diseases, a Tibetan medicinal bath therapy involves two courses per year, with each course costing roughly 2,000 to 3,000 yuan, resulting in annual expenses of about 6,000 to 7,000 yuan. When receiving treatment at grassroots medical institutions, the state covers approximately 85% of these costs, leaving patients to pay only around 1,000 yuan themselves. In contrast, if rheumatic diseases are treated at large urban hospitals, patients typically undergo several courses of therapy per year, with each course costing between 20,000 and 30,000 yuan. The state’s reimbursement rate for such treatments is only about 40% to 50%, which not only increases the financial burden on patients but also places a heavier strain on the national medical insurance system.

　　Second, leveraging the distinctive advantages of ethnic medicine in health poverty alleviation can facilitate the inheritance of ethnic medicine at the grassroots level. Through mentorship-based education and extensive clinical practice, we can ensure the continuation and medical growth of ethnic physicians.

　　Third, leveraging the distinctive strengths of ethnic medicine in health poverty alleviation can help maximize its advantages—from prevention and treatment to rehabilitation. Ethnic medicine has demonstrated remarkable efficacy in areas such as chronic disease rehabilitation, mind-body regulation, and health preservation, and it does not require prolonged hospitalization. By reducing both societal and individual medical expenses, it enables those receiving treatment to develop healthy lifestyle habits, ensuring the durability and long-term effectiveness of therapeutic outcomes.

　　Committee Member Lei Jufang also suggested that a nationwide pilot program should be widely implemented to strongly support the establishment of specialized traditional medicine clinics in areas with high disease prevalence, focusing on diseases where ethnic medicine excels. These clinics should be equipped with appropriate medical devices and equipment, thereby effectively contributing to health-based poverty alleviation efforts.

　　Reporting media: China Business Network

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