Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a unique medical science and a traditional culture that only can be found in China, which not only has played an important role in the prosperity of the Chinese nation for thousands of years, but also, to some extent, has influenced positively on the world’s civilization. But, at present, most of traditional Chinese medical hospitals are facing a difficult situation.
Professional Education is Badly Needed
Perhaps one of the biggest issues facing TCM today is that many students have no idea of the four methods of diagnosis, (eg observation of the patient’s complexion, expression, movements, tongue, etc., auscultation and olfaction, interrogation, and pulse feeling and palpation), nor the ability to make prescriptions.
To learn TCM is a long-term process, which needs a lot of practice to gradually grasp its essence.
Traditionally the manner of TCM education for thousands years saw students learning from the masters. However, with the death of these masters, the experiences, techniques and ideas of TCM have become harder to hand down.
On the other hand, today students also have to make efforts to learn English, computer and other skills to better adapt to modern society, which can impact on their time and knowledge to focus on TCM and minimize their professional diagnostic skill.
Every year, among TCM graduates, 95 percent of them choose to jump to other careers, while 90 percent of the other 5 percent are not working as doctors but the Pharmaceutical Sales Representatives.
According to Wang Xudong, a professor at Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the students of TCM should upgrade their professional capacity by reading a large number of ancient medical literature. What’s more, students should engage in more clinical cases to accumulate experience, diagnostic skills and medical ethics. Only when they have this established could they be doctors that are trusted by patients.
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