There are great opportunities and challenges for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) which is on the verge of some major breakthroughs in the next few years, a senior Singapore official told a international conference Monday in Singapore.

The official also said the secret of success for TCM in the new economy lies in good products and formulas, modern quality control measures and high professional standards for TCM people.

Singapore Senior Parliamentary Secretary of Prime Minister's Office and Ministry of Health Chan Soo Sen made these remarks while delivering a keynote speech at the 5th American Chinese Pharmaceutical Association (ACPA) international conference.

"I have seen enough to say that TCM is on the verge of some major breakthroughs in the next few years," he affirmed, citing what he had seen during his visits to the China Academy of TCM in Beijing two years ago and to Shanghai TCM University last year.

"Although modern Western medicine is the main form of healthcare in Singapore, TCM enjoys considerable popularity as a complementary form of healthcare," he pointed out, citing an estimated 45 percent of the population of Singapore had ever consulted a TCM practitioner in the past and about 12 percent of daily outpatient attendance opt to see TCM practitioners here.

There is similar trend in developed countries and among some young people, he said, adding that some of them are going for TCM treatment as a form of "green medicine" and many of them prefer natural herbs and tonics rather than synthetic drugs and chemicals prescribed by Western doctors.

"If we are prepared to invest in these areas, we will be able to benefit more from TCM's development tomorrow," Chan concluded.

(People's Daily 05/29/2001)