China has licensed nearly 3,800 Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) specialists who have experience and expertise, but no formal qualifications. The move is aimed at fostering TCM talent, and boosting the development of the industry.

In China, many people have learned TCM through the master-apprentice system, rather than formal schooling. Without training in the schooling system, a large number of veteran TCM specialists are incapable of obtaining the certificates by attending a unified national TCM qualification examination.

However, the situation changed when the Law on Traditional Chinese Medicine went into effect in July 2017, allowing people with TCM expertise to apply for medical qualifications through appraisals of practical skills and treatment efficacy.

Instead of sitting for the national exam for TCM qualifications, the old hands can go through on-site appraisals, which focus on their performance of TCM techniques and skills. The examinees are licensed after passing the evaluation by TCM experts.

So far, 20 provincial-level regions across the country have completed such appraisals for TCM practitioners in the last three years, said the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

China had 625,000 certified TCM practitioners and 127,000 TCM pharmacists at the end of 2019, according to statistics released by China's National Health Commission in June.

The number of TCM facilities nationwide grew by 5,071 to 65,809 in 2019, including 5,232 TCM hospitals, said the commission, adding that the facilities provided close to 1.33 million hospital beds for patients seeking TCM treatment.