Sustainable development
CPPCC Member Lei Jufang: Clinical diagnosis and treatment pathways should pay attention to reflecting the roles of traditional Chinese medicine and ethnic medicines.
Release time:
2016-03-02 09:41
This afternoon, Tibet Qizheng Tibetan Medicine Co., Ltd. held the 2016 National Two Sessions Exchange Meeting in Beijing. 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., pointed out in her proposal titled "On Paying Attention to the Role of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ethnic Medicines in Clinical Pathways" that, in the current nationally promoted clinical pathway management, sufficient attention has not been given to traditional Chinese medicine or ethnic medicines when developing clinical pathways in general hospitals. As a result, whether for acute or chronic diseases, traditional Chinese medicine has not been included among the drugs that can be prescribed under these pathways. If this practice is fully implemented, traditional Chinese medicine will essentially be phased out of inpatient treatment in general hospitals.
The current healthcare system reform has entered a critical phase. As one of the key measures of the healthcare reform, the "promotion of clinical diagnosis and treatment pathways" is a crucial step for standardizing clinical practice, enhancing clinical efficiency, and reducing clinical costs. With the vigorous promotion of clinical diagnosis and treatment pathways, the role of clinical pathway management in further deepening the reform of public hospitals is becoming increasingly evident, while also exerting significant influence on the production and sales of pharmaceuticals.
Lei Jufang believes that the current situation—where clinical pathways in general hospitals do not give sufficient attention to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) or ethnic medicines—is inconsistent with the national strategy of encouraging the integration and equal emphasis on both TCM and Western medicine. She suggests that, in the development and implementation of clinical pathways targeting general hospitals—including locally developed clinical pathways—full recognition should be given to the roles of TCM and ethnic medicines. In areas where TCM has certain advantages, physicians should be encouraged, while fully adhering to modern medical treatment principles, to also consider using time-tested, safe, cost-effective, and evidence-based traditional medicines. This approach would not only ensure that patients’ medical needs are adequately met, help reduce healthcare costs, and facilitate the smooth implementation of healthcare reforms, but also promote the development of indigenous industries—a truly multi-beneficial initiative.
Regarding the development of clinical pathways by health authorities, she proposed in her motion that experienced Chinese medicine clinical experts—those well-versed in both traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine—should be included in the formulation of these clinical pathways. This approach would fully reflect the principle of integrating Chinese and Western medicine and also enable the complementary advantages of each system.
In addition, in her proposal, Lei Jufang also suggested that the development of clinical pathways for primary medical institutions should place greater emphasis on the role of traditional medicine, thereby enhancing the adoption and utilization of these pathways.
Reporting media: Securities Times Online
Report link: http://kuaixun.stcn.com/2016/0302/12607647.shtml