TAOYUAN (TVBS News) — The number of Taiwan's Chinese medicinal herb stores has been gradually decreasing over the past years. Dropping from over 15,000 stores during its peak period, statistics indicated there are 7,000 shops thus far, with an average of 600 to 700 closures annually.
Despite the challenges, as younger generations are taking over family-owned stores, many shops begin to introduce new features to their businesses, such as renovating the traditional shop and diversifying product lines.
Chien Ching-heng, a Chinese medicinal herb store owner, shared his experience in transforming the family's traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) shop in Taoyuan, "Such changes represent a breakthrough. It's not just about changing the packaging; it's about breaking through traditional thinking.”
"You need to communicate with the older generation and let them understand why you are making these changes. Initially, I showed my father many successful cases of industrial transformation," Chien commented.
Although the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced in 2019 that individuals engaged in TCM retail businesses for more than two years could operate TCM businesses after completing a 162-hour TCM course.
However, the issuance of licenses has not met expectations with only over 3,700 people having obtained licenses thus far, while TCM shops continue to close one after another.
Liang Ching-ying, CEO of a chain of TCM clinics, stressed, "Currently, it is the doctors who are most familiar with the field of TCM prescriptions, followed by pharmacists and assistants. Neither the government nor academia has trained professionals."
Impacted by falling birth rates, the China Medical University's Department of Chinese Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chinese Medicine Resources reportedly stopped recruiting students last year.
Although the university clarified that this decision was made to align with national industrial development trends and involved adjustments to departmental offerings, it highlights the challenges that lie ahead for TCM shops.
Hung Tzu-jen, head of the Taiwan College of Healthcare Executives, "Regarding the transformation, we recommend that TCM shops, in addition to their traditional business, transition into souvenir shops. This would provide tourists with more choices."