On behalf of the Premier, I would like to extend an invitation for you to join us at the Premier’s Lunar New Year Luncheon. This event will bring together many friends and members of the Asian community as they mark the Year of the Dragon.
Date and time:
February 8th?from 11am to 1pm (Doors will be open at 10:45am)
Please arrive on time as programming will begin at 11am.
2024年1月23日,省卫生厅发布了最新修订的中医针灸监管条例提案(Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and?Acupuncturists Regulation Proposed to replace B.C. REG. 290/2008)。新的修订案对现行监管框架进行了广泛地修改,与中医立法监管保护民众健康的初衷大相径庭,严重损害注册中医专业人员为民众提供医疗服务的明确性,极大降低中医原有高质量的教育规范,因此引发中医专业人员及社会团体的极大不满。
Regarding the proposed Amendment of TCMPA regulation
On January 23, 2024, the Ministry of Health released the amendment of TCMPA regulation to replace the current regulation “Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists Regulation proposed to replace B.C. REG. 290/2008)”. This newly proposed regulation involves extensive modifications to the current version seriously contradicting the original intent of legislative oversight to protect public health in traditional Chinese medicine. Moreover, it severely undermines the clarity of healthcare services provided by TCM professionals to the public and greatly diminishes the existing high-quality educational standards in TCM. As a result, it has sparked significant dissatisfaction among TCM professionals and societal groups.
For examples, It involved replacing TCM-specific and medical terminology with more ambiguous expressions, such as “manual therapy” for “tuina” and “thermal stimulation” for “moxibustion.” This alteration diminishes the expression of TCM culture and its traditional roots, potentially harming public interests and health by obscuring the definition of TCM to the public.
Moreover, this newly proposed version simplifies the definitions of TCM and acupuncture, leading to the near-complete removal of content from the “scope of practice” section. Additionally, all oversight regarding “Chinese herbal prescriptions” prescribing, compounding and dispensing TCM herbal medicines and formulas in the “Restricted activities” section has been
eliminated, possibly enabling unqualified individuals to practice Chinese herbal medicines. This will also disrupt the thorough change in the professional education and training requirements for all levels of TCM practitioners since the legislation on traditional Chinese medicine in 1999, posing a significant potential risk to the BC residents!
It is worth mentioning that traditional Chinese medicine has been under provincial legislation and regulation to protect public interests for 25 years since 1999. The current TCM Regulation in BC dates back to 2008, established by the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners & Acupuncturists of British Columbia (CTCMA) and approved by the Ministry of Health. During the ensuing 25 years, TCM in BC has been effectively regulated and becoming a benchmark for TCM healthcare nationwide. It has provided the public with economically effective TCM treatments including acupuncture, tuina, qigong, Chinese herbal medicines, and herbal dietary therapy, thus reducing healthcare costs for the provincial government.
Amidst these concerns, there is a consensus among TCM registrants regarding the importance of regulation. We understand that regulation is essential for ensuring the safety and efficacy of TCM and acupuncture practices. We recognize the ongoing efforts to amalgamate four colleges into a unified regulatory body as a positive step towards enhancing the professionalism and integrity of the profession.
Consequently, we strongly advocate for well-structured regulatory frameworks to govern the practice of TCM and acupuncture. In order to protect the best interests of BC residents, we earnestly urge the provincial
government to firmly retain the 2008 TCM regulatory framework, and under no circumstances cancel the restricted practice of “prescribing, formulating, and dispensing of Chinese herbal medicine”!
Prof./ PhD Rong-Gang Li (Founder of Home of Canadian TCM Society,?Chairperson of Canadian Traditional?Chinese Medicine Development Alliance)
Mr. Hua Niu (President of Canadian Community Service Association)
Mrs.Vivian Zhuang
Dr. John Lee ( Co- Chairperson of Canadian Traditional Chinese Medicine Development Alliance)
为了在更大范围内宣传和推广中医药针灸文化,让更多不同族裔的省民认识和选择中医药针灸,从而推动中医药针灸在社区医疗服务方面有更大的发展,中医药针灸成果展示暨义诊活动于2024年6月16日在BC省原住民地区Tsawwassen的Wonderland Kids Indoor Play Center 内隆重举行。