China will further harness the unique power of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the treatment of COVID-19, according to a new circular by the State Council’s inter-agency working group for COVID-19 response.
The circular, available online on Wednesday, called for the intervention of TCM at earlier stages in the treatment of novel coronavirus infections and emphasized the integration of TCM and Western medicine in the treatment of severe cases.
Medical institutions are urged to provide patients with TCM services as soon as possible to help prevent mild cases from becoming severe.
“After three years of responding to COVID-19, we have formed a Chinese approach in which both TCM and Western medicine are used, and traditional Chinese and Western medicines are administered,” said Huang Luqi, deputy director of the State Administration of Chinese traditional medicine. Huang highlighted the important role of TCM in the approach.
China is shifting the focus of its response to COVID-19 from infection prevention to protecting people’s health and preventing serious cases, Huang said, adding that the unique power of TCM should be further harnessed to protect the life and health of people.