Traditional Chinese medicine will play a bigger role in medical reform, as it has advantages in prevention and healthcare, according to a health official.

TCM and Western medicine complement each other, which is an important factor in China's health service system, said Wang Guoqiang, head of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

In 2013, China had more than 200 million citizens over 60 years of age, posing great challenges to the health sector.

"As TCM has advantages in prevention and healthcare and is relatively cheaper than Western medicine, it will help to solve difficulties for the public in getting medical treatment," Wang said at the first TCM Science Conference on Sunday.

He called for key studies on the development of TCM to be strengthened, with both long-term and short-term targets.

Wang also called for innovation among TCM workers to promote techniques through new equipment and medicine.

Wu Yiling, an academic at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, suggested that pricing policies for the industry be revised and that policy support that has already proved effective be provided.

In 2013, the value of TCM output exceeded 560 billion yuan ($91.4 billion). 

(From China Daily, 2014-11-25)