The Health Ministry spokesman lambasted a netizens's
controversial idea that traditional Chinese medicine should be
taken out the country's health care system.
"Traditional Chinese medicine is the essence of China and is an
integral part of China's medical and health system," said the
ministry spokesman Mao Qun'an on Tuesday at a press conference. Mao
called people who support the idea "ignorant of history."
The on-line writer asked other netizens to support his plan that
urged the health authority to take the traditional Chinese medicine
out of China's national medical system. The writer suggested that
Chinese hospitals only prescribe western medicines. Although the
writer's original statement has already been deleted it continues
to stir hot debate among Chinese netizens in other on-line
forums.
Supporters of the proposal say they believe western medicine is
more scientific and trustworthy, while opponents condemned the
proposal as ridiculous and ignorant.
Spokesman Mao said traditional Chinese medicine has proven merit
in history in protecting the health of Chinese people. "In modern
times, it is still an important choice for us to cure diseases and
ease pain."
Mao said the proposal showed people's "ignorance" of history and
the key role that traditional Chinese medicine has played in the
lives of Chinese people.
"We firmly object to such suggestions," he said. The ministry
wouldn't comment further after Xinhua contacted it for further
explanation.
Earlier reports show that traditional Chinese medical
departments in China receive nearly 300 million visits a year.
The traditional Chinese medical industry, with a total
production value of nearly 81.026 billion yuan (about US$10.125
billion), accounted for a quarter China's overall medical industry
in 2005.
Mao said the government has helped develop traditional Chinese
medicine and western medicine equally in China.
He said health authorities will increase support to bolster the
development of traditional Chinese medicine in the next five years.
"There is no doubt that we will further promote traditional Chinese
medicine."
Also at the press conference, Mao said the ministry had moved
dissuade people from undergoing leg-lengthening surgery following
recent reports of patients' legs becoming disfigured after the
operation.
The operation, which involves breaking the patients' legs and
stretching them on a rack, has become popular among young
professionals desperate to climb up the ladder in the country's
height-conscious society.
"Leg-lengthening surgery is a clinical orthopedic treatment, not
cosmetic surgery," Mao said.
"Leg-lengthening surgery must only be carried out for strict
medical reasons and performed in authorized hospitals," Mao
added.
The surgical procedure was originally developed in Russia to
help patients with legs disfigured by accidents or birth defects
such as dwarfism.
According to the Beijing Institute of External Skeletal Fixation
Technology, the cost of the surgery is about US$15,000 to US$25,000
and it takes about two years to recover.
Last month, ten people were reported to have been disfigured
after they underwent the operation last year. They were all
introduced to the Beijing Xiangshan hospital from a Chinese website
that advocates "height surgery with no pain."
Hospitals must inform patients of the risks of the surgery and
get the patients consent, Mao said.
(Xinhua News Agency October 11, 2006)