Lai Ching-te promotes distinctive Taiwanese traditional medicine for global health blueprint

President Lai Ching-te received the World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies in Taipei on the 15th of this month, emphasizing that traditional Chinese medicine is an indispensable force for a "healthy Taiwan." He proposed establishing a traditional Chinese medicine model with Taiwanese characteristics, aiming to share Taiwan's experiences internationally through the linkage of medical treatment and industrial chains. This statement not only echoes the "healthy Taiwan" policy promoted by the government in recent years, but also demonstrates that the Executive Yuan is incorporating traditional medicine into its comprehensive development blueprint for public health and industrial upgrading. President Lai pointed out that Taiwan's traditional Chinese medicine not only complements Western medicine clinically, but also possesses unique advantages in medicinal material research and development, manufacturing process standardization, and international certification. Moving forward, Taiwan will build a medical service system tailored to local needs based on these foundations.

The institutionalization process of traditional Chinese medicine in Taiwan can be traced back to the legislation of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Act in 1997. Subsequently, the medical system gradually incorporated traditional Chinese medicine practitioner licensing systems and medical reimbursement, forming a framework with both public and private sector participation. Over the past decade, the government has successively invested resources in scientific research and industrial upgrading for traditional Chinese medicine, established innovation centers for the traditional Chinese medicine industry, promoted quality inspection and traceability mechanisms for medicinal herbs, and encouraged universities and hospitals to cooperate in developing new drugs and health products. These initiatives have gradually enhanced Taiwan's visibility in academic publications and international conferences regarding traditional Chinese medicine, while providing dual support in technology and regulation for industrialization.

At the international level, Taiwan has long been excluded from formal World Health Organization (WHO) meetings due to political factors, making it difficult to directly share local traditional Chinese medicine experiences with the global community. President Lai's recent call to "share Taiwan's experience with the world" is effectively a soft-power diplomatic strategy. Through cooperation with international organizations such as the World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies, Taiwan can showcase its achievements in traditional Chinese medicine standardization, clinical evidence, and industrial chain integration through unofficial channels, thereby further striving for international recognition and market opportunities. This move also aligns with the extension of the government's "New Southbound Policy," using the medical and health industries as important bridges for foreign exchanges.

From an industrial perspective, Taiwan's traditional Chinese medicinal materials and preparations already possess a certain export foundation in Southeast Asia and North American markets, though their scale remains small to medium compared to mainland China and Japan. The "Taiwan-characteristic" model proposed by President Lai refers to combining local ecological resources with modern biotechnology to create high-quality, traceable products that comply with international Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards. The government anticipates enhancing the innovation capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises through tax incentives, research and development subsidies, and industry-academia cooperation platforms. It also aims to elevate the production value of traditional Chinese medicine to a new high within the next five years while creating more employment opportunities and strengthening economic resilience.

Finally, President Lai's remarks also resonate with the public's expectations for diverse health choices. With an aging population and the increasing burden of chronic diseases, many patients are beginning to seek the preventive and restorative functions of traditional Chinese medicine. If the government can provide more comprehensive traditional Chinese medicine services and insurance reimbursements under the premise of ensuring safety and scientific verification, it will help enhance the health and well-being of all citizens. The challenge moving forward lies in how to balance traditional wisdom with the evidence base of modern medicine, while shaping a Taiwanese image on the international stage that both respects cultural heritage and possesses innovative vitality.