A pharmacist weighs Chinese herbal medicines for patients infected with the novel coronavirus at Anhui Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Hefei
Beijing traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) authorities addressed the controversy over draft regulations which appeared to indicate that people who question the efficacy of TCM would be punished, saying it was a misinterpretation and that they could revise or delete some clauses in the draft regulations in response to the controversy.
Beijing is seeking public opinion on draft regulations on TCM, which bans any person or organization from exaggerating the efficacy of TCM or using TCM to make improper profits, but also seeks to punish those who "defame" or "stigmatize" TCM.
The draft law aims to regulate the industry, support the industry's development and call for standard procedures to control the quality of TCM, but it sparked controversy as some believe the core issue when it comes to regulating the TCM industry should be cracking down on fake medicines and unqualified doctors, rather than punishing those who question TCM.
An official of the Beijing Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine said that the public misinterpreted the controversial clause. The official said reasonable questions against TCM are accepted.
"'Questioning' and 'slander' are different concepts," the official said.
There are preconditions on punishment against people who slander TCM in the draft, the official said. "If people stir up quarrels and disturb public order, they shall be accused of violation of public security administration, and only if people commit a crime will they be prosecuted," said the official.
The official noted that the draft is now seeking public opinion and the authority could revise or delete some clauses after evaluation.
The final version of the regulations is expected to be formally released in September, said the official.
A pharmacist weighs Chinese herbal medicines for patients infected with the novel coronavirus at Anhui Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Hefei
The draft law aims to regulate the industry, support the industry's development and call for standard procedures to control the quality of TCM, but it sparked controversy as some believe the core issue when it comes to regulating the TCM industry should be cracking down on fake medicines and unqualified doctors, rather than punishing those who question TCM.
"'Questioning' and 'slander' are different concepts," the official said.
