Vice-Premier and Health Minister Wu Yi Thursday highlighted the role of traditional Chinese medicine in treating Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) patients and called for further recognition of the scientific value of the traditional therapy in the fight against the disease.
During a symposium attended by renowned traditional medicine experts in Beijing, Wu urged the active application of traditional medical resources to the anti-SARS fight and called for even greater dedication on the part of medical staff on the front line of the battle against SARS.
Wu, also commander-in-chief of China's SARS prevention and control headquarters, had high praise for the noble spirit and dedication of medical personnel working with traditional methods and reserved her highest praise for senior staff for their active participation in anti-SARS work.
Traditional Chinese medicine has not only contributed tremendously to the development and prosperity of the Chinese nation, but has a positive impact on the advancement and progress of world civilization, said Wu, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.
Traditional Chinese medicine experts have carried out researches on the SARS epidemic and combined traditional and Western therapies in order to develop new SARS treatment methods, said Wu, adding that the experience is of great value for further research and theoretical and technical upgrading.
Relevant departments of the State Council, the Chinese cabinet, and governments at all levels across the country are urged to use traditional Chinese medicine to its full advantage in the anti-SARS fight and to support and encourage the medical personnel in the field to join in the effort.
(Xinhua News Agency May 9, 2003)
