Development Strategy of Chinese and Western Integrative Medicine Under New Circumstances

Abstract

In 2020, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) broke out and swept rapidly all over the world. The Chinese and western integrative medicine, a unique medical model in China, has played an important role in the fight against the epidemic. We need to draw experience from the fight against the epidemic to promote the development of Chinese and western integrative medicine and provide intellectual support and theoretical guarantee for the national health and medical undertakings. First, we review the achievements of the Chinese and western integrative medicine since 1949 using literature review and questionnaire survey, and summarize the key roles of this integrative medicine in the prevention and control of COVID-19. Subsequently, we analyze the weaknesses of the integrative medicine in terms of medical resources, clinical education and research, and internationalization, and propose the construction goals for this discipline under the new circumstances in China, including the inheritance and innovation of the Chinese and western integrative medicine and a world-leading role in the integration of Chinese traditional medicine with western medicine. Furthermore, we suggest that China should improve the governance system for the Chinese and western integrative medicine, enhance talent training in this discipline, actively promote international exchange, and encourage the Chinese and western medicine integration culture.

Keywords

• Chinese and western integrative medicine, evidence-based medicine, evaluation system, talent training, COVID-19