China has established over 1,100 Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) specialized departments, further expanding public access to high-quality TCM services across the country, said Lu Jianwei, deputy director of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, on Friday.
At a press conference in Beijing, Lu highlighted the continued growth and optimization of the TCM industry.
"The building of a high-quality and efficient TCM service system is accelerating. And the service capabilities have been greatly improved. More than 1,100 national TCM specialized departments are showcasing the effectiveness of TCM in disease prevention and treatment. Furthermore, 42,000 TCM clinics in primary healthcare institutions are making it easier for people to access TCM services and traditional Chinese medicine on their doorstep. The scale of the TCM industry continues to expand and its structural layout continues to be optimized," Lu said.
The TCM specialties are part of a national plan launched in December of last year to create a comprehensive network of advantageous TCM specialties with broad professional and geographical coverage. The plan aims to establish over 10,000 such specialties by 2029, promoting their development at various levels and further improving clinical efficacy.
Further bolstering the TCM sector, a new guideline was issued on Thursday by the general office of the State Council, with focus on enhancing TCM quality and driving the sector's high-quality development.
The guideline lists key tasks in eight areas, such as the protection and application of TCM resources, the development of the Chinese medicinal herb industry, and the transformation and upgrading of the TCM industry.
It also specifies the requirements for advancing technological innovation and quality supervision related to TCM, as well as for pursuing a higher-quality opening-up of TCM to expand its global reach.
China further expands public access to high-quality TCM services
A major port in northern Venezuela came under U.S. airstrikes in the early hours of January 3, which caused extensive damage to civilian infrastructure, destroyed critical medical supplies in a warehouse, and severely impacted centuries-old cultural heritage sites, according to local residents.
The La Guaira Port, a vital hub for imports that support daily life in the region, was heavily damaged during the attack.
Large quantities of medical supplies stored at the port were destroyed. A historic cultural building dating back for some 300 years was also badly damaged by the bombardment.
Residents living near the port recalled the terrifying scenes as explosions shook nearby neighborhoods.
Humberto Bolivar, who lives in a community separated from the port by only a main road, said the blast waves shattered his home's windows, while stray shrapnel struck the water tank on his roof. According to reports, three missiles were fired at the port that night.
Bolivar said that beyond material losses, he is most concerned about the psychological impact on his children, who remain too frightened to leave their home days after the attack.
"The United States invaded our country. The children were frightened. This is not good for them, because it leaves some children with psychological trauma. They do not want to go to school or leave the house, because they are afraid that something worse might happen. We truly do not want this to happen to our country," he said.
Apart from civilian facilities, local cultural heritage site was also affected.
The La Guaira state government building, a structure with nearly 300 years of history and once served as the site of Venezuela's first national customs office, was struck by the force of the explosions.
Windows of the building were shattered, and furniture scattered across the floor.
"As people of La Guaira, we feel deep pain. Our cultural heritage has been bombed. We are living in constant anxiety and suffering, and life can no longer be the same as it was before," said a local named Henry Cumares.
The U.S. side has claimed the airstrikes targeted warehouses allegedly used to store narcotics. However, locals refuted such accusation.
"According to what Donald Trump said, they bombed this place using the excuse that the warehouses here were used to store drugs at the port. But based on the video released by our governor, these warehouses that were burned contained medicine for kidney patients and foods. Many people depend on these supplies to survive. I think the bombing is extremely despicable," said a local resident named Alejandro Capriles.
US strike hits Venezuelan port, wrecking medical supplies, heritage building
