Responding to the New Era Through the Development of Tibetan Medicine

　　Lei Jufang (left) inspects the growth of the Tibetan medicinal herb turmeric in Motuo County, Nyingchi City, Tibet.

　　“By the end of the 1980s, China’s reform and opening-up efforts were primarily concentrated along the eastern coastal regions. Although we are located in the western part of the country and our access to information was relatively limited, we nonetheless felt the impact and inspiration of the reform and opening-up policies. Relying on our industry’s distinctive advantages, we embarked on some explorations of our own.” As one of the “100 Outstanding Private Entrepreneurs Commemorating 40 Years of Reform and Opening-up,” recommended by the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, Lei Jufang, a member of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and Chairwoman of Qizheng Group, described her inclusion on the list in this way.

　　It is Tibetan medicine that has helped Lei Jufang realize her entrepreneurial value.

　　Transformation: The “Impulse” of a Senior Engineer

　　Originally, Lei Jufang was a senior engineer at the Institute of Modern Physics in Lanzhou, Chinese Academy of Sciences. In 1987, responding to the national policy urging scientific and technological personnel to “move into the main battlefield of the national economy,” she made a trendy and impulsive decision—to venture into the private sector!

　　“Looking back now, that decision I made back then was somewhat idealistic and rather impulsive—so I just jumped right in. If it were today, I’d make sure to conduct a thorough risk assessment before making any major decisions; maybe I wouldn’t have chosen this path then,” Lei Jufang said with a smile to the reporter when reflecting on those days.

　　At the very beginning of her entrepreneurial journey, Lei Jufang chose to stick with her original field—industrial pollution control. Although this venture achieved some modest success, it didn't quite meet her expectations. Several years later, Lei Jufang fully devoted herself to the research and promotion of Tibetan medicine.

　　For Lei Jufang, choosing Tibetan medicine was an inevitability within chance. It all started with a little girl suffering from a blood disorder.

　　When she was still working on industrial pollution control, Lei Jufang met a little girl who had developed nocturnal hemoglobinuria. This is a blood disorder in which patients excrete blood into their urine during sleep. To this day, the medical community still regards this disease as a rare and complex condition, and the only way to sustain life is through continuous, periodic blood transfusions.

　　“At the time, the hospital had already issued a critical-illness notice for the little girl. By then, I had already met Tubudan, a well-known Tibetan doctor from the Gannan Tibetan Medicine Research Institute. With a ‘let’s give it a shot’ attitude, we reached out to him,” Lei Jufang told the reporter. After a thorough consultation, Tubudan prescribed Tibetan medicine for the little girl.

　　The treatment’s effect far exceeded expectations. Two years later, the little girl was miraculously cured, and she was able to resume her studies. Later, she started a family and became a mother herself—and now, “her life and work are both incredibly fulfilling.”

　　The little girl’s experience ignited Lei Jufang’s “admiration” for Tibetan medicine.

　　“As an important branch of traditional Chinese medicine, Tibetan medicine has taken a completely different path from that of Western medicine, which is now far more widely practiced. While Western medicine typically seeks to identify the specific molecular target responsible for a disease in order to deliver targeted treatment, Tibetan medicine takes a different approach. Although it cannot pinpoint the exact targets defined by Western medicine, it can nonetheless address the underlying causes of disease through a comprehensive interplay of multiple factors, ultimately making previously considered incurable conditions treatable.” Deeply influenced by Tubdan, Lei Jufang became fascinated with Tibetan medicine.

　　Tracing the Origin: Building the Linzhi Pharmaceutical Factory

　　People who regularly engage in physical exercise, even if they’ve never heard of “Qizheng,” are generally familiar with Qizheng’s “Pain-Relief Patch”—Qizheng’s flagship product that enjoys immense popularity both at home and abroad. Part of this product is manufactured at Qizheng’s pharmaceutical plant located in Linzhi, Tibet.

　　Many people wonder: Why would Lei Jufang, who chose Gansu as the starting point for her entrepreneurial journey, now go through countless obstacles to build a pharmaceutical factory in Tibet? To such questions, Lei Jufang always responds with a calm smile. After all, she’s dedicated to Tibetan medicine—Tibet is precisely the fertile ground where Tibetan medicine has its roots.

　　“Actually, if we didn’t build a factory in Tibet and instead simply purchased medicinal herbs from Tibet for processing in Gansu, we could still produce finished products—at a relatively lower cost. But in that case, Qizheng would lose the very foundation upon which Tibetan medicine has relied for its survival and development, becoming merely a product-manufacturing company. Such a shift might not allow us to achieve long-term, healthy, and sustainable growth,” Lei Jufang believes. She sees building a pharmaceutical factory in Linzhi as an inevitable step for herself and Qizheng to trace back to the origins of Tibetan medicine.

　　This kind of traceability has also transformed the lives of countless local people.

　　Since Qizheng established its factory in Linzhi in 1995, it has hired more than 50 people with disabilities. These individuals were originally among those waiting for social welfare assistance; now, thanks to the job opportunities provided by Qizheng, most of them have found their life partners, gained confidence in life, and rediscovered the dignity of work, thereby ensuring a stable family life.

　　“When guests come to visit the Linzhi factory or when an employee has a birthday, these workers with disabilities eagerly rush to take the stage and perform at the song-and-dance evening,” Lei Jufang told reporters. She said that the confidence displayed by the workers on stage deeply moves her every time she watches their performances.

　　In addition to hiring workers with disabilities, more than 80% of the employees at the Linzhi Pharmaceutical Factory are Tibetan compatriots. “These compatriots were originally living in extreme poverty, but now they’re living in houses built by Qizheng, driving cars they’ve always dreamed of to and from work, or taking their families on pilgrimages—everyone is filled with joy.” Witnessing more and more Tibetan compatriots transform their fates firsthand is what brings Lei Jufang the greatest satisfaction.

　　Setting off: Embarking on the train of reform and opening-up

　　Although the pain-relief patch is now renowned both at home and abroad, it initially held only an approval number from the Tibet Autonomous Region, meaning it could only be sold and used within the Tibet Autonomous Region.

　　In fact, the initial dissemination of Tibetan medicine was highly limited, primarily through monastic transmission, and its primary focus was on addressing the health needs of the Tibetan people in the Tibetan region. However, with the tide of reform and opening-up, the spread of Tibetan medicine has also embarked on a path of openness.

　　“For example, initially, Qizheng Xiaotong Tie only held an approval number issued by the autonomous region. But later, it was upgraded to a national pharmaceutical approval number—a turning point of epochal significance. From then on, Tibetan medicine could be sold nationwide, and the health needs of people across the country could be better met,” said Lei Jufang. She added that this “major step forward” for Qizheng has also “forced” the company to adapt to market trends and pursue even more innovation.

　　“We’ve built our own team and developed our own academic marketing model. In other words, Qizheng invests heavily every year in evidence-based medical research. Not only do our own employees understand and endorse Qizheng’s pharmaceutical products, but we also ensure that clinical doctors are well-informed and convinced of their value—making them the key players in our academic promotion efforts.” In Lei Jufang’s view, Qizheng’s early entry into the global arena of pharmaceutical companies was facilitated by an internationally recognized model of pharmaceutical academic promotion. It was precisely through continuous exploration within this very framework that Qizheng has not only earned national-level awards at the corporate level but has also established a national key laboratory.

　　Internationalization has also opened up new opportunities for China’s traditional ethnic medicines in the global market.

　　More than ten days ago, at an international academic conference held in the United States, experts engaged in heated debate over the issue of alternatives to pain medications. The so-called “alternatives to pain medications” refer to the fact that for a long time, painkillers used primarily by developed countries led by the United States were largely addictive drugs—drugs that provided rapid relief but easily led to psychological dependence in patients, and were thus also known as “opioid drugs.”

　　“You could say that winning the ‘war’ against painkillers has become an international consensus. Under this consensus, non-addictive painkillers originating from China will have even more opportunities, and people around the world may benefit as a result,” Lei Jufang emphasized.

　　Inheritance: Building a Base for Cultivating Tibetan Medicine Talent

　　In the process of commercializing Tibetan medicine, Qizheng has also donated and supported the establishment of a base for the inheritance of Tibetan medical talent—the Linzhi Gongbu Manlong Yutuo Tibetan Medical School. At this school, not only are tuition fees completely waived for Tibetan medical students, but Qizheng also provides them with living allowances.

　　“Actually, our original intention in donating and establishing the Tibetan Medicine School was to leverage the power of our company to help Tibetan children from impoverished families—giving them a practical skill that would enable them to earn a living. For instance, after completing their studies, these students would learn how to identify and collect medicinal herbs, and then they could find work at pharmacies dispensing medicine, thereby supporting their families.” To Lei Jufang’s surprise, the development of the Gongbu Manlong Yutuo Tibetan Medicine School has far exceeded expectations, turning it into a vital hub for the preservation and transmission of Tibetan medical expertise.

　　It turns out that students who graduate from Tibetan medical schools not only learn to identify medicinal herbs but also learn how to diagnose and treat illnesses.

　　“In standardized medical education, very few medical students can recite the Tibetan medical classic ‘The Four Medical Tantras.’ However, among students at Tibetan medical schools, this proportion rises to over 90%. With such a solid theoretical foundation, these students demonstrate remarkable abilities when it comes to putting their knowledge into practice and actually providing hands-on medical care,” Lei Jufang told reporters. She added that the establishment and development of Tibetan medical schools have also inspired her thinking about how the country could address healthcare coverage issues in remote areas.

　　As China’s reform and opening-up efforts continue to deepen, the aspiration of providing basic medical coverage for all citizens has been realized. However, in remote areas, numerous challenges remain in the practical implementation of this basic medical coverage system. Lei Jufang believes that relying on locally trained doctors can help better realize this national system.

　　“For example, in the remote agricultural and pastoral areas of Tibet, although there are some visiting doctors who have studied either Western medicine or traditional Chinese medicine, due to various practical difficulties and reasons, these doctors often find it hard to put down roots and develop sustainably in these regions. In contrast, grassroots doctors who have learned local medical practices—because they have a deep understanding of the local conditions—are able to devise treatment plans that truly win the trust and satisfaction of their patients, and thus tend to enjoy greater acceptance in these areas.” In Lei Jufang’s view, decades from now, Tibetan medicine will be better preserved and passed down thanks to Tibetan medical schools, ensuring improved health care for the people living in remote Tibetan agricultural and pastoral communities. Some Tibetan medical students may even go on to become nationally renowned physicians.

　　“As far as Tibetan medicine is concerned, Qizheng’s growth has been nothing more than picking up a few beautiful stones from a treasure trove. But whether it’s promoting the spread of Tibetan medicine or ensuring the inheritance and development of Tibetan medical practices, these efforts over the past several decades represent our response to the nation’s drive toward a new era in the western regions,” Lei Jufang remarked at the end of the interview.

　　Reporting media: People's Political Consultative Conference Daily

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