Beijing (CNS) -- The Chinese mainland now has 440,700 traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) institutions and 408,600 certificated TCM doctors, or 3.06 for every 10,000 residents.
Every year 67.1 million people visit TCM doctors, representing 19.2% of all medical services, according to an industry status report released Wednesday by the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
The two-year survey was conducted in 739,600 hospitals and medical service institutions across 31 provinces, said Yu Wenming, deputy director at the state administration, during the release conference.
Among all TCM service organizations, 8.5% are TCM hospitals and clinics, 82.6% are health centers at the county and town level, and the remaining 8.9% are comprehensive service hospitals, community medical centers and community health stations.
13.57 million patients recovered under TCM treatment, or 16.1% of all hospitals. 89% of all hospitalized patients were cured in special TCM institutions, and 11% were cured in comprehensive hospitals or TCM departments in specialized hospitals.
TCM services have been facilitated in 339,400 villages, with about 35 million prescriptions every month.
Only 47,600 medical workers are qualified for this level of service, however. There are still 33.5% town medical stations and 42.5% village centers without access to TCM care, added Yu.
In the next five years, China's demand for TCM professionals is expected to mount up to 517,600 institutions.
