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Chinese give Czechs a taste of their medicine

By Tuo Yannan in Prague | China Daily Europe | Updated: 2015-06-19 06:57
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Work of two hospitals brings traditional and modern treatments to one clinic

A Chinese medicine center has opened in the Czech Republic, the first of its kind in Central and Eastern Europe.

Among those who attended the opening ceremony of the Czech Chinese Research Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Prague on June 17 were Chinese Vice-Premier Liu Yandong; the Czech Deputy Prime Minister for Science, Research and Innovation, Pavel Belobradek; and Margaret Chan, director-general of the World Health Organization.

 

Chinese Vice-Premier Liu Yandong delivers a speech at Charles University in Prague on June 16. Tuo Yannan / China Daily

The center is a joint project by Shuguang Hospital, affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and the University Hospital Hradec Kralove.

Shuguang Hospital is one of the top universities in China that specializes in TCM, and the University Hospital Hradec Kralove is ranked as one of the most important health facilities in the Czech Republic.

The Czech hospital trains doctors and provides other medical training.

At the opening ceremony, Liu spoke optimistically about the success of the new venture.

"The relationship between the two countries has never been better. The center is a new highlight of that relationship. It is the first traditional Chinese medicine center in Europe and the first medicine project to be part of the One Belt, One Road Initiative."

Chinese medicine had entered Europe through the ancient Silk Road during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907), she said.

"Chinese medicine has helped and healed Chinese people over thousands of years, and I hope that through this collaboration, medical communication between the two countries can be more frequent and fruitful."

In 2003, traditional Chinese medicine played an important role in combating SARS, sudden acute respiratory syndrome. It was used in treating more than 3,000 cases in China, says Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medcine. A combined treatment of the illness based on both traditional Chinese medicine and Western "medicine was acclaimed by the WHO as "safe and effective with huge potential benefits".

Last year when Chinese medical teams joined the efforts to prevent and control Ebola, patients were given the opportunity to avail themselves by using traditional Chinese medicine.

Traditional Chinese medicine is now used in at least 183 countries and regions worldwide, with more than 500,000 registered practitioners, says Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medcine.

Belobradek said at the ceremony: "We now have a deeper understanding of Chinese medicine than ever before. In the Western world, once we encounter a disease, we tend to focus treatment on the disease; Chinese medicine, on the other hand, looks for the roots of the ailment.

"Czech people have often had problems in finding good Chinese doctors, and I am glad the new center will provide professional doctors and experts."

Roman Prymula, director of the University Hospital in Hradec Kralove, said the hospital wants to build the largest Chinese medicine research and education center in Central and Eastern Europe.

At a meeting in Prague of Chinese and CEE health ministers on June 16, Liu said China will soon provide 200 scholarships for those wishing to go to China to study the prevention and treatment of diseases.

China now has special traditional Chinese medicine cooperation agreements with the WHO and 83 countries and regions.

Chinese medicine education is being localized in more and more countries and more programs are being offered at higher-education levels. The global TCM trade in services market is worth about $50 billion (44 billion euros) a year, and products are exported to 173 countries, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medcine says.

In the past few years, Chinese medicine has been included in international standards. The WHO has decided to incorporate traditional medicine, including TCM, into the International Classification of Diseases, and the International Standardization Organization has set up a TCM technical committee.

Liu said: "The governments of China and the Czech Republic need to fully support this development. By means of the center's combination of traditional and modern methods, the project can contribute to the welfare of all of humanity."

The Minister of Health of the Czech Republic, Svatopluk Nemecek, said: "Chinese medicine is the treasure of Chinese culture and has been passed down over thousands of years.

"I believe the development of Chinese medicine will benefit Czech people, and the establishment of the Chinese medicine center is not only meaningful to Czech Republic, but also to Europe."

tuoyannan@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily European Weekly 06/19/2015 page15)

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