Abstract
The Western Medicine (WM) and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are commonly integrated in the contemporary practice of medicine in China. About 90% of the general hospitals and 75% of health centers have TCM departments. TCM is a holistic medicine that has been practiced for 5,000 years, and it is still popular in China and the world. TCM is based on the concept of maintaining the balance of 2 forces within the body called Yin and Yang. They manifest themselves in the 5 elements: fire, water, metal, wood, and earth. Before the founding of the P.R. China in 1949, there were no established TCM hospitals, but only private pharmacies operated by TCM doctors. To protect TCM as a national treasure of China and provide affordable medical services, the central government initiated a TCM hospital system since 1954. Since then, TCM hospitals in China have remained committed to not only medical care but also the social and historic cause of reviving TCM as an important part of Chinese cultural heritage. 93.9% TCM hospitals were set up after the Reform and Opening-up Policy of China. Integration of TCM and WM in Hong Kong provides a valuable reference for the development of integrative medicine in the world.
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Zhou, H. (2021). The Evolution and Role of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in Healthcare System and Integrated Medicine in China. In: Islam, M.N. (eds) Chinese Medicine and Transnational Transition during the Modern Era. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-9949-1_3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-9949-1_3
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