A five-year plan to promote the development of services linked to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) was issued on May 7 as part of the deepening healthcare reforms.

By 2020, a program of TCM services will be established and will play an important role in the transformation of China’s economic and social development, according to the plan released by the General Office of the State Council.

Specific tasks were laid out, including supporting the development of healthcare services, developing elderly care services and boosting TCM-related tourism.

Social participation is encouraged in establishing organizations that provide TCM healthcare services and TCM will be applied in health management, it said.

A program that promotes the development of both public and non-public TCM medical institutions, and gives priority to the quality of grassroots TCM services will be established. Qualified professionals, especially doctors will be encouraged to set up clinics.

The plan also encourages the establishment of nursing houses that focus on elderly healthcare services. TCM hospitals that meet certain requirements should provide services for the elderly in communities or their homes.

It also calls for special travel routes to be developed by making use of TCM-related resources such as historical attractions, museums and herb plantations.

Market access to permitted areas will be available for social capital and equal market access should be granted to both local and non-local investors.

The government will also play a bigger role guiding investment in this field by measures such as expanding financing channels for TCM service institutions and related sectors, and encouraging social capital in investing and operating service projects.