QINGDAO planned to promote traditional Chinese medicine and a series of preferential policies would be implemented soon, according to a plan released by the city’s health department recently.

    Farmers’ medical expenses for traditional Chinese medicine treatment covered by medical insurance card would be 15 percent more than other treatment, while the percentage for urban residents’ traditional Chinese medicine expenses covered by the insurance would be 5 percent more than other treatments. About 90 percent of the expenses for acupuncture treatment can be paid by a medical insurance card. More preferential policies would be offered for traditional Chinese medicine treatment at community clinics.

    The city will also help the development of traditional Chinese medicine hospitals and encourage emminent doctors to open private clinics.

    Traditional Chinese medicine doctors will be introduced to rural areas and each town-level hospital and community clinic will have at least one traditional Chinese medicine professional and related equipment in five years.

    The city also planned to build 200 healthcare clinics, 20 healthcare bases and 20 health-facilitating restaurants featuring Chinese herbs in five years.

    (Wang Yuanyuan, Sun Qingwei)