The province of Shandong has launched a slew of measures to facilitate the preservation and development of traditional Chinese medicine and achieve breakthroughs in core technologies in key areas, local media reported.

These measures will take effect on April 1, 2021.

According to the local authorities, Shandong, as one of the important cradles of TCM, boasts rich resources of traditional Chinese medicine and has a competitive TCM industry.

A hospital staff fills prescriptions of traditional Chinese medicine for patients. [Photo/VCG]

The province is an important production base of radix glehniae, honeysuckle, rose, red-rooted salvia, scutellaria baicalensis and other traditional Chinese medicinal materials. Its planting area of honeysuckle accounts for more than 60 percent of the country's total.

Official statistics show that the plating area of traditional Chinese medicinal materials in Shandong measures about 2,567 square kilometers. The province is home to 202 TCM production enterprises and 30 wholesale enterprises specializing in TCM decoction pieces, with 2,132 varieties of TCM available.

The 30 measures to boost the development of the TCM industry will be valid for five years in Shandong. These measures are related to standardized production, quality management, innovation and other aspects.

Shandong will promote the large-scale cultivation and standardized production of traditional Chinese medicinal materials to improve quality and foster local brands.

Industry associations and enterprises in Shandong are encouraged to make standards for Chinese herbal medicine cultivation and breeding to facilitate the high-quality development of related industries.  

Targeted measures will be launched to expand production, as well as facilitate storage and circulation of TCM decoction pieces in the province.

The province will also continue to strengthen the supervision of TCM, reform the management of pharmaceutical preparations in medical institutions, strengthen the construction of technical support system, and accelerate the improvement of its ability in TCM testing, personnel training, and scientific research.