President Tsai Ing-wen lauded the contributions of Taiwan’s practitioners and researchers in the field of traditional Chinese medicine March 14, spotlighting how the country’s medical community are embracing the Taiwan Can Help spirit to safeguard global health and well-being.
TCM professionals in Taiwan have been at the forefront of creating a combined East-meets-West approach to treating COVID-19 ever since the disease first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019, Tsai said. The successful launch of NRICM101, an herbal co-treatment for patients infected with coronavirus developed by Taipei City-based National Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, has further raised the country’s profile in this regard, she added.
Tsai made the remarks while attending the opening ceremony of the 13th Taipei Traditional Chinese Medicine International Forum in northern Taiwan.
According to Tsai, the government is committed to providing the people with comprehensive access to TCM and Western medicine. To this end, Taiwan’s National Health Insurance program allows traditional treatment options for a vast array of conditions ranging from cancer to maternity care, she said.
Under the six core strategic industries initiative the government is ramping up public-private cooperation in the medical industry, Tsai said, adding she is confident this will lead to further breakthroughs while giving people the freedom to choose between TCM and Western medicine.
Unveiled by Tsai during her May 2020 inauguration address, the initiative springboards off the five-plus-two innovative industries program. It comprises the information and digital technology; cybersecurity; biotech and medical technology; national defense; green and renewable energy; and strategic stockpile industries. (DL-E)
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