BEIJING — Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is expected to play a bigger role in meeting people’s ever-growing demand for health, as China deepens medical and healthcare system reform, an expert said.

The State Council, China’s cabinet, on June 4 released a document specifying priorities in medical and healthcare system reform in 2019. The directive called for efforts to inherit and develop the TCM, and stressed innovation during the process.

TCM can play a leading role in the preventive treatment of disease and a key role in recovery, said Feng Li, a professor with the Cancer Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.

“The TCM is effective in treating precancerous lesions, and can also enhance the effectiveness of the chemoradiotherapy or surgeries, as well as enhance patients’ immunity during postoperative rehabilitation,” Feng said.