The Chinese government has published its first white paper on traditional Chinese medicine. It highlights the unique and modern-day appeal of traditional remedies in China and across the world.

The white paper says by 2015, there were nearly 4,000 TCM hospitals, over 42,000 clinics and about 452,000 practitioners and assistant practitioners across the country.

Besides contributing to the prevention and treatment of common, endemic and difficult diseases, TCM has played an important role in the prevention and treatment of major epidemics.

China aspires to enable every citizen to have access to basic TCM services by 2020, and to develop TCM services to cover all areas of medical care by 2030.

TCM is also going global. It has been spread to over 180 countries and regions. The World Health Organization says more than 100 member states have given approval to the practice of acupuncture and moxibustion, while nearly 30 others have enacted special TCM statutes.