Members of the Education, Science, Culture and Public Health Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) on Friday called for a law to enshrine the role of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).
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The law would call on the central and local governments to improve the structure of a TCM health care system and promote education and scientific study of TCM.
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A few days ago, an online petition initiated by a professor with the Central South University suggested that Chinese hospitals should only prescribe western medicines.
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The proposal has stirred heated debate among Chinese people, with opponents labeling it ridiculous and ignorant.
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The central government has announced that more support will be given to bolster the development of TCM to set up a service network covering both urban and rural areas by 2010.
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The committee members at Friday's workshop urged the State Council to include the law on TCM in their lawmaking plans.
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Earlier reports show that TCM departments in China receive nearly 300 million visits a year.
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The TCM industry, with a total production value of 81.03 billion yuan (US$10.1 billion), accounted for a quarter of China's overall medical industry in 2005.
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The World Health Organization statistics show that 54 countries in the world have formulated laws on traditional medical science.

(Xinhua News Agency October 21, 2006)