Using Tibetan medicine to meet the people’s needs for managing chronic diseases.

　　Introducing Tibetan medicine treatment protocols and medications will greatly meet the diverse and differentiated needs of the public in the prevention and management of chronic diseases.

　　As one of the few female entrepreneurs among the delegates to the Two Sessions, Lei Jufang, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and Chairwoman of Tibet Qizheng Tibetan Medicine Co., Ltd., is a household name in China's pharmaceutical industry. For the past 16 years, this advocate for Tibetan medicine has devoted herself wholeheartedly to promoting the development of ethnic medicines.

　　At this year’s “Two Sessions,” Lei Jufang submitted two proposals, one of which once again focuses on promoting the development of the Tibetan medicine industry. Lei Jufang believes that chronic diseases have become the “number one killer” among Asian populations, and we should fully leverage the role of Tibetan medicine in the prevention and treatment of these conditions. Specifically, Tibetan medicinal products that have been clinically proven effective and enjoy a solid market base—particularly those with therapeutic advantages in the treatment of chronic diseases—should be added to both the National Essential Medicines List and the National Medical Insurance Drug List. At the same time, we should support the establishment of specialized clinics across the country dedicated to the treatment of chronic diseases using Tibetan medicines.

　　Promote Tibetan medicine for the treatment of chronic diseases.

　　Lei Jufang told reporters that, according to the World Health Organization, chronic diseases have severely impacted the health of people worldwide, imposing enormous economic and social burdens. According to reports, chronic diseases have become the “number one killer” among Asian populations and are expected to claim the lives of 270 million Asians over the next decade. Moreover, in developing countries, 65% of the healthcare burden is attributable to chronic diseases, and chronic diseases account for as much as 80% of all disease-related deaths.

　　Lei Jufang said, “Tibetans call it the ‘Third Pole of the Earth,’ yet it’s hard for us to imagine that the proportion of centenarians there is seven times higher than the average rate of centenarians per million people in China. In such a life-threatening zone—characterized by low atmospheric pressure, extreme cold, and oxygen deficiency—such remarkable longevity is entirely attributable to the benefits that Tibet’s ancient medical system has brought to the Tibetan people in preventing and treating chronic diseases.”

　　According to reports, Tibetan medicine boasts a comprehensive system for the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. As early as 1,300 years ago, the foundational Tibetan medical text, "The Four Medical Tantras," already provided a detailed and complete account of four therapeutic approaches for human diseases—namely, dietary therapy, lifestyle and behavioral therapy, pharmacological therapy, and external therapies. The preservation and exploration of Tibetan medicinal varieties used in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases will play an extremely important role in China's efforts to prevent and control such conditions.

　　“Over the course of thousands of years, Tibetan medicine has not only developed a comprehensive system and amassed a wealth of clinical experience, but also boasts uniquely distinctive medicinal practices. If Tibetan medical treatment protocols and medications were introduced into the prevention and management of chronic diseases among the general public, it would greatly meet the diverse and differentiated needs of the people in this area—and ultimately benefit both the people and the government,” Lei Jufang told reporters.

　　It is understood that, to date, Tibetan medicinal herbs have essentially been classified as organic. This is because the Tibetan herbs, which grow in vast, unspoiled regions, remain entirely wild. Their active ingredient content is 5 to 10 times higher than that of herbs cultivated artificially in inland areas, earning them the reputation among scientists as “natural biological extracts.” The typical daily dosage of Tibetan medicine is around 1 gram; remarkably, it rarely causes irritation or side effects to the digestive tract, making it highly suitable for long-term use by people suffering from chronic illnesses. In terms of treatment, Tibetan medicine follows the correspondence between the human body and natural time cycles: generally, stomach-tonifying medicines are taken in the morning, anti-inflammatory and detoxifying remedies at noon, and sleep-promoting and calming medicines in the evening—often achieving both symptomatic relief and addressing the root cause of the illness.

　　Therefore, during this year’s “Two Sessions,” Lei Jufang proposed that we should harness the role of Tibetan medicine in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. In particular, all Tibetan areas should protect the inheritance system for using Tibetan medicine to treat chronic illnesses and provide policy support for the development of the Tibetan medical industry.

　　Establishing a “hematopoietic mechanism” for Tibet

　　Speaking of the development of Tibetan medicine over the past decade or so, Lei Jufang feels deeply moved. She told reporters that the distinctive features of the Tibetan medicine industry in disease prevention and treatment have made it the sector with the strongest developmental foundation and late-mover advantages in the Tibetan areas. Industrial development is the best way to create employment, address social instability factors, and lay the economic groundwork for promoting harmonious social development. “For decades, the Party and the government have mobilized the entire nation’s resources to assist Tibet, bringing about tremendous changes in the region. Yet, to a large extent, this has relied on a ‘blood-transfusion mechanism.’ If we support the development of Tibetan areas’ specialized industries, integrate inland markets with Tibetan resources, and foster a ‘self-sustaining mechanism’ within the Tibetan regions themselves, we can promote Tibet’s sustainable economic development and strengthen unity and integration among its people. This represents one of the nation’s major security strategies.”

　　Back then, Qizheng Tibetan Medicine rose to prominence in China’s orthopedic external treatment drug market with its “Qizheng Pain Relief Patch.” In the second half of last year, Qizheng Tibetan Medicine successfully listed on the A-share market, marking a new milestone in its journey to develop the Tibetan medicine industry. Earlier this year, Lei Jufang stepped down as General Manager of Qizheng Tibetan Medicine, devoting more energy to the company’s overall strategic development.

　　Speaking about future development, Lei Jufang told reporters that the introduction of the new healthcare reform policy in 2009 presented an opportunity for more than 4,000 Chinese pharmaceutical manufacturers. However, greater support is still needed for ethnic medicines in both the Essential Medicines List and the newly revised National Reimbursement Drug List. “This is closely tied to the foundation of industrial development. In mainland China, there’s still limited understanding of Tibetan medicine. To build a thriving industry, we’ll need to do extensive work in cultural promotion and cultural integration.”

　　Lei Jufang has a clear vision for the development of Tibetan medicine. She told reporters that the Tibetan medicine industry needs to overcome three major hurdles: First, culture—more than 99% of people outside Tibet are unaware of Tibetan medicine, and greater communication is needed to foster mutual understanding. Second, innovation—while innovating, it’s essential to back up claims with data, demonstrating through empirical evidence that Tibetan medicine is indeed a shining gem in the industry. The third hurdle is respecting and protecting intellectual property rights, which is crucial for breaking down market barriers.

　　Therefore, in her proposal submitted to the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Lei Jufang strongly called for three measures: First, the state should regard supporting the development of the Tibetan medicine industry as a “hematopoietic mechanism” for aiding Tibet; second, relevant authorities should add Tibetan medicinal products with strong market foundations and proven efficacy in treating chronic diseases to both the National Essential Medicines List and the National Medical Insurance Drug List; and third, support the establishment of specialized clinics for the treatment of chronic diseases using Tibetan medicine in mainland China, enabling residents of the mainland to also benefit from Tibetan medical services.