TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW, 衛生福利部) convened on Thursday (Sept. 26) to discuss revitalizing Taiwan's traditional Chinese medicine (中藥) industry, which has been in decline due to incomplete legislation and the absence of a national examination.
The meeting explored the feasibility of allowing graduates from Chinese medicine or pharmacognosy programs who have completed core courses to manage Chinese medicine shops.
Hsieh Ching-tang (謝慶堂), chairman of the National Union Chinese Medicine Association (中藥商業同業公會全國聯合會), expressed hope that this change would enable the children and apprentices of shop owners to continue the business.
However, the Federation of Taiwan Pharmacists Associations (藥師公會全聯會) holds a different view. They argue that Chinese medicine is still a medication and should be overseen by licensed pharmacists.
Huang Chin-shun (黃金舜), chairman of the Federation, emphasized that the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act's (藥事法) Article 103 includes a sunset clause for the Chinese medicine industry, stating that pharmacists should manage it in the future.