Tibetan medicine makes progress in the region

A mural of manthang, or Tibetan medicinal thangka, mainly signifies the meaning of Tibetan medicinal science. [Photo by Daqiong/For chinadaily.com.cn]

The Tibet autonomous region has been making progress in promoting healthcare, education, research and industry for Tibetan medicine in recent years, said the region's health commission on Friday.

The region has been making efforts to build four "world-classes" for Tibetan medicine: a world-class research platform, a world-class university of Tibetan medicine, a world-class enterprise of Tibetan medicine, and a world-class healthcare center of Tibetan medicine, it said.

"As a shining pearl in China's medical treasure trove, Tibetan medicine formed into a unique medical system as the residents of the plateau fought against nature and diseases throughout history," said Kelsang Yudron, director of the commission.

"Tibetan medicine has been playing a vital role in ensuring medical services for the residents, and promoting high-quality social and economic development," she said.

The central and the regional governments have been attaching great importance to the development of traditional Chinese medicine and ethnic medicine.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, Chinese traditional medicine has been elevated to a national strategic level, development tasks of Tibetan medicine have been clarified since the Seventh Central Symposium on Tibet Work in 2020, and it greatly promoted the fast development of Tibetan medicine in the region, she said.

Lum bathing, a type of Tibetan medical therapy, was recognized as an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2018, and Gyushi, or the Four Medical Tantras, joined the list of Asia/Pacific Regional Register of Memory of the World.

So far, the region has 49 public and 13 private Tibetan medicinal hospitals, with the number of annual outpatient visits in Tibetan hospitals reaching 3.34 million, statistics from the commission showed.

According to the statistics, the coverage rate of Tibetan medicine services in community health service centers has increased from 50 percent in 2012 to 100 percent.

"Tibetan medicine was adopted in the entire process of treatment during the region's battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting its outstanding advantages and unique functions," said Kelsang Yudron.

Migmar, president of the University of Tibetan Medicine, said the university was founded in 1989 as an institute of higher education specializing in the integration of the teaching and research of healthcare and ethnic traditional medicine.

"Over the 34 years, through higher education, the master-apprentice model and vocational skills training, the university has cultivated more than 7,000 professionals of Tibetan medicine ranging from bachelor to doctorate degrees," said Migmar.

During the next five years, Kelsang Yudron said, the region will make good use of modern science and technology and traditional research methods, to accelerate the promotion and application of scientific and technological achievements of Tibetan medicine.

"Next, we will carry out the collection and compilation of ancient Tibetan medical documents, as well as the collection and compilation of secret prescriptions from famous doctors," said Kelsang Yudron, adding the region will seek to promote Tibetan medicine culture in the industries of tourism, sports and healthcare services.