Hainan explores innovative development for TCM

An aerial view of the new project for the Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hainan Province, which is under construction. [Photo by Gao Lin/Hainan Daily] 

Trainees from Russian-speaking countries learn acupoint massage skills of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in Sanya. [Photo by Wu Hao/Hainan Daily]

South China's Hainan province has achieved rapid development in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) by improving medical systems, fostering talents, improving medical services, and strengthening discipline building during the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20).

As of now, there are four 3A-grade TCM hospitals and eight 2A-grade TCM hospitals across the island. The hospitals above 2A-grade level take up 70 percent of all 17 public TCM hospitals across the province.

In addition, Hainan has been constantly improving the innovative development of TCM services and trade, exploring the integration of medical care with tourism.

For example, the Sanya Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital has been striving to tap into the international market with its "TCM medical care tour," which enables tourists to enjoy TCM treatments during their travels in Sanya. The hospital launched an international TCM nursing home and rolled out special TCM tourism products, including over 300 TCM healthcare products, nine TCM tourism projects, as well as 15 TCM therapy products, which were popular among foreign and domestic visitors.

Apart from the public hospitals, the city's private medical institutions also strive to contribute to this field. For example, Sanya Taichi Medical Care Center in Dadonghai has become a popular venue among Russian visitors. About 80 percent of the customers of the center have been Russians since it opened in 2006.

Other parts of Hainan province have also sought to boost TCM tourism. Haikou, the capital city of the island, made full use of the tourism resources at Mission Hills and introduced famous TCM brands to offer medical services to visitors from countries like Australia, Germany, and Japan. In Qionghai, the Boao Super Hospital of TCM was built, which now provides high-quality TCM services to foreign visitors from over 20 countries. 

To expand new business formats in TCM services, related departments in Hainan released several regulations and standards, aiming to further boost the TCM sector.

In the government work report of the State Council released early this year, the revitalization and development of TCM was identified as a key task for 2020. At the fifth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee that closed in November, the important value and status of TCM in the medical system was reiterated, with the goal of "adhering to equal emphasis on Chinese and Western medicines and boosting TCM industry" included in the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25).

The construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port is expected to offer more policy support and create a more favorable climate for the development of the TCM industry. In the future, the island province, which boasts the rich and unique TCM resources of the Li ethnic group, will build its TCM industry as a calling card for itself.