Original Title: Notice from the Municipal Government Office on Issuing the Three-Year Action Plan for Building Nantong into a Leading City in Traditional Chinese Medicine (2025–2027)
To fully advance the development of Nantong as a leading city in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), establish a comprehensive TCM service system, and promote the coordinated development of TCM healthcare, heritage, talent, industry, and culture—thereby making TCM a key pillar of the “Healthy Nantong” initiative and a new engine for economic growth—this Action Plan is formulated in accordance with the spirit of the “Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Comprehensively Deepening Reform and Advancing Chinese-Style Modernization” and the “Implementation Plan for Major Projects to Promote the Revitalization and Development of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Jiangsu Province,” and in light of the actual conditions of our city.
I. Improving the Service System and Strengthening the Foundation for Development
(1) Expanding High-Quality Medical Resources
Actively promote the upgrading of public TCM hospitals and fully support county-level TCM hospitals in their efforts to achieve Grade A-III accreditation and transition to Grade III status. By 2027, all public TCM hospitals will meet Grade III standards.Priority will be given to implementing the construction project for Nantong Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine as a National Key Hospital with Distinctive TCM Features. We aim to ensure that the new building at the Haierxiang Campus of Nantong Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine is completed and begins operations by 2027, and that Tongzhou District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine moves to its new location and commences operations. [Responsible Units: Municipal Health Commission, Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Municipal Finance Bureau; People’s Governments of all counties (cities, districts); Management Committees of all municipal-level directly administered industrial parks. The unit listed first is the lead unit; the same applies below.]
(2) Building Distinctive Medical Institutions
Leveraging opportunities presented by performance evaluations of public TCM hospitals, hospital accreditation, and specialty accreditation, we will strengthen the internal development of TCM hospitals and leverage the distinctive advantages of traditional Chinese medicine. We will establish renowned TCM hospitals and departments with provincial influence, advance the construction of the Nantong Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine as a National Key Hospital with Distinctive TCM Features and the National Key Specialty in TCM Surgery, and launch the construction of municipal-level “flagship” hospitals for integrated Chinese and Western medicine. We will select pilot departments with distinct advantages in traditional TCM, such as acupuncture and rehabilitation, to establish TCM day wards.By the end of 2025, formulate and issue evaluation standards for municipal-level key TCM specialties, and conduct re-evaluations and establishment of such specialties. Strengthen the development of TCM clinical departments in public general hospitals; by 2027, ensure that 100% of public general hospitals at the secondary level and above, as well as maternal and child health care hospitals providing medical services, establish TCM departments, and actively create “flagship” departments for integrated Chinese and Western medicine.Encourage private capital investment in the TCM sector to establish various types of TCM medical institutions, and guide the standardized development of private TCM medical institutions. [Responsible Units: Municipal Health Commission, Municipal Medical Insurance Bureau, Municipal Finance Bureau, Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Municipal Market Regulation Bureau; People’s Governments of all counties (cities, districts); Management Committees of all municipal-level directly administered industrial parks]
(3) Strengthening the Emergency Response System
Strengthen the development of intensive care units (ICUs), emergency departments, and other key departments in TCM hospitals to enhance emergency treatment capabilities. Improve the institutional mechanisms for TCM participation in public health emergencies, incorporate TCM into emergency response and treatment protocols, and ensure its immediate involvement in rescue operations.Advance the construction of the Nantong Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine as a municipal-level TCM emergency medical rescue (epidemic prevention and control) base, and accelerate the development of the three major centers—chest pain, stroke, and trauma—at county-level TCM hospitals. Strive to ensure that all three major centers at TCM hospitals in each county (city, district) meet municipal standards by 2027. [Responsible Units: Municipal Health Commission, Municipal Development and Reform Commission; People’s Governments of all counties (cities, districts); Management Committees of all municipal-level direct-affiliated industrial parks]
(IV) Deepening the Development of TCM Medical Consortiums
Accelerate the implementation of the tiered diagnosis and treatment system, deepen the substantive development of close-knit county-level medical consortiums, and promote the extension of high-quality medical resources to grassroots levels in both urban and rural areas. By the end of 2027, all counties (cities, districts) in the city shall have established county-level medical consortiums with rational layouts, unified management, and efficient operations, and the TCM hospitals in each county (city, district) shall serve as one of the leading units of the medical consortium.Close-knit county-level medical consortia led by TCM medical institutions will receive appropriate preferential treatment in the management of total payment for medical insurance funds. [Responsible Units: Municipal Health Commission, Municipal Medical Insurance Bureau, Municipal Finance Bureau; People’s Governments of all counties (cities, districts); Management Committees of all municipal-level direct-affiliated industrial parks]
(5) Improving the Primary-Level Service Network
Support primary-level medical institutions in strengthening the development of TCM clinics and establishing TCM corners in community health service stations and village clinics that meet the necessary conditions. By 2027, 100% of the city’s established community health service centers and township health centers will have graded TCM clinics, with 70% of them being Grade IV or higher (including 11 newly constructed Grade V TCM clinics by 2025);More than 65% of community health service stations and village clinics will have established TCM corners. [Responsible Units: Municipal Health Commission, Municipal Development and Reform Commission, People’s Governments of all counties (cities, districts), and Management Committees of all municipal-level direct-affiliated industrial parks]
II. Enhance Management Standards and Strengthen Service Capabilities
(6) Improving Hospital Management Systems
Establish a modern hospital management system tailored to the characteristics of TCM hospitals, adhering to the operational model of “integrating Chinese and Western medicine, with a focus on TCM.” Advance reforms to the remuneration distribution system in public TCM hospitals, implement the “two allowances” policy, improve hospital compensation mechanisms, and stimulate the initiative of medical staff. [Responsible Units: Municipal Health Commission, Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau, Municipal Finance Bureau, Municipal Medical Insurance Bureau, People’s Governments of all counties (cities, districts), and Management Committees of all municipal-level direct-affiliated industrial parks]
(7) Strengthening the Quality Control System
In accordance with the standards for provincial TCM quality control centers, establish additional municipal-level TCM quality control centers and launch a citywide initiative to improve the quality of TCM medical care. By 2025, at least five new municipal-level TCM quality control centers will be established; by the end of 2027, the integration of provincial and municipal TCM quality control centers will be completed; and counties (cities, districts) will be encouraged to establish county-level TCM quality control centers to ensure the quality of TCM medical care. [Responsible Unit: Municipal Health Commission]
(8) Building Specialty (Disease-Specific) Clusters
Actively establish national TCM specialty departments with comparative advantages, national “flagship” departments for integrated TCM and Western medicine, and provincial and municipal-level TCM specialty departments with comparative advantages. Refine the construction standards and management measures for municipal-level key specialty departments, summarize and optimize treatment outcomes for priority disease categories, and promote diagnostic and treatment protocols and clinical pathways.Continue to promote the use of the value-based payment system based on therapeutic efficacy for TCM inpatient conditions with comparative advantages, leverage the guiding role of medical insurance payments, and promote the sustainable development of TCM specialty departments and disease-specific programs. By 2027, strive to establish at least one National TCM Specialty of Comparative Advantage, one to two National “Flagship” Departments for Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, more than 24 provincial-level key specialties, and add more than 10 new provincial-level key specialty construction projects; county-level TCM hospitals should establish 12 municipal-level or higher specialty departments.[Responsible Units: Municipal Health Commission, Municipal Medical Insurance Bureau, Municipal Finance Bureau; People’s Governments of all counties (cities, districts); Management Committees of all municipal-level directly administered industrial parks]
(9) Improving Primary-Level Service Capabilities
Increase investment in county-level TCM hospitals, strengthen the development of intrinsic quality, and advance the construction of “two specialties and one center.” Leverage the advantages of TCM within the municipal area to establish a municipal-level TCM appropriate technology training center by 2025 and promote the establishment of TCM promotion centers in TCM hospitals across all counties (cities, districts).County-level TCM hospitals should be able to properly apply at least 45 appropriate TCM techniques across 10 categories; community health service centers and township health centers should be able to properly apply at least 10 appropriate TCM techniques across 6 categories; and community health service stations and village clinics should be able to provide basic TCM services. [Responsible Units: Municipal Health Commission; People’s Governments of all counties (cities, districts); Management Committees of all municipal-level directly administered industrial parks]
(10) Strengthen Capacity Building for Preventive Medicine and Rehabilitation
Strengthen the substantive development of TCM preventive medicine and rehabilitation disciplines; promote collaborative models between rehabilitation departments and other specialties; explore new models for TCM preventive medicine and chronic disease management; and integrate the concepts of preventive medicine and rehabilitation into the entire process of medical services.By 2025, ensure that rehabilitation departments are established in all public TCM hospitals at the secondary level and above. [Responsible Units: Municipal Health Commission, Municipal Education Bureau, Municipal Sports Bureau, Municipal Disabled Persons’ Federation; People’s Governments of all counties (cities, districts); Management Committees of all municipal-level directly administered industrial parks]
(11) Fully Participate in the “Weight Management Year” Initiative
Ensure that 100% of TCM hospitals at the secondary level and above establish specialized weight management outpatient clinics, and increase the coverage of weight intervention services at grassroots TCM clinics to 80%; publish a standardized flowchart for TCM weight management in adults; select 5–10 appropriate TCM weight-loss techniques; develop 30 standardized TCM nutritional weight-loss dietary sets and 10 types of TCM weight-loss herbal teas; and promote these throughout the city.By 2027, the system will conduct follow-ups on 3,000 individuals managed for obesity using TCM. Among those with a phlegm-dampness constitution participating in follow-ups, the average annual decrease in body fat percentage will be 5%, and the rate of achieving improved waist-to-hip ratio targets will be ≥70%. [Responsible Units: Municipal Health Commission; People’s Governments of all counties (cities, districts); Management Committees of all municipal-level direct-affiliated industrial parks]
III. Promote Inheritance and Innovation to Inject Vitality into Development
(12) Exploring TCM Schools
Support the Nantong Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine in conducting systematic research and preserving the authentic school of surgery, and the Liangchun Clinic in studying and preserving the Zhang-Zhu School. Establish a municipal-level TCM research center to coordinate research on these schools, and identify and preserve the academic ideas, renowned techniques, formulas, skills, and medicines of distinguished physicians and experts in the Nantong region, thereby promoting their inheritance and development.[Responsible Units: Municipal Health Commission, Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Municipal Market Supervision Administration, Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau, People’s Governments of all counties (cities, districts), and Management Committees of all municipal-level direct-affiliated industrial parks]
(13) Inheriting Intangible Cultural Heritage of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Thoroughly explore traditional TCM therapies and techniques with local characteristics in Nantong, and strengthen their clinical application and the protection of their living traditions.Encourage the standardization of TCM processing and formulation techniques used by renowned senior pharmacists, and support the application of distinctive traditional TCM therapies and skills for inclusion in intangible cultural heritage projects at all levels. By 2027, strive to add multiple new municipal, provincial, and national-level TCM intangible cultural heritage projects. [Responsible Units: Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, and Tourism; Municipal Health Commission; People’s Governments of all counties (cities, districts); Management Committees of all municipal-level direct-affiliated industrial parks]
(14) Implement the Digital and Intelligent Empowerment Project
Build smart TCM hospitals by utilizing technologies such as big data and artificial intelligence to achieve automated collection and intelligent application of TCM service and management data, thereby enhancing digital diagnosis and treatment capabilities. Develop “Internet + Telemedicine” services to facilitate information-based collaboration among specialized disease alliances and medical consortiums.By 2027, electronic medical record systems in all public TCM hospitals will reach Level 4 or higher; all municipal and county-level TCM hospitals will be established as internet hospitals; and the construction of projects such as the TCM Cloud Platform will be advanced. [Responsible Units: Municipal Health Commission; People’s Governments of all counties (cities, districts); Management Committees of all municipal-level directly administered industrial parks]
(15) Building Research Platforms
Encourage municipal and county-level TCM hospitals to engage in in-depth cooperation with medical and pharmaceutical universities and research institutions both within and outside the province. Establish high-level municipal TCM research institutes, laboratories, and industry-academia-research cooperation bases, and cultivate 1–2 first-class provincial research and innovation teams. Encourage TCM enterprises of all types across Nantong to increase R&D efforts and promote the commercialization of research outcomes. [Responsible Units: Municipal Health Commission, Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Education Bureau, Municipal State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission]
IV. Strengthening Talent Development to Solidify the Foundation for Growth
(16) Cultivating Talent Pools
Establish inheritance studios for renowned senior TCM experts and grassroots workstations. By 2027, establish 2–4 new national-level inheritance studios for renowned senior TCM experts, 2–4 provincial-level studios, and more than 15 municipal-level studios for renowned TCM practitioners. Strengthen the training of grassroots TCM talent, support targeted training and recruitment, and train 100 personnel for grassroots TCM clinics annually to enhance service levels at the grassroots level. [Responsible Units: Municipal Health Commission, Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau]
(17) Selecting and Cultivating High-Level Talent
Encourage high-level professionals at TCM hospitals to apply for national-level talent programs. Strive to add at least 10 new “Famous TCM Practitioners of Jiangsu Province” by 2025, and cultivate a group of outstanding national and provincial-level TCM talents by 2027. [Responsible Units: Municipal Health Commission, Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau]
(18) Cultivating Western Medicine Practitioners Specializing in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Encourage Western medicine practitioners to participate in national and provincial “Western Medicine to Traditional Chinese Medicine” programs, and organize municipal-level training sessions for Western medicine practitioners to study Traditional Chinese Medicine. By the end of 2027, cultivate approximately 180 doctors recognized by provincial TCM authorities who are qualified to prescribe both proprietary Chinese medicines and decocted Chinese herbal medicines. [Responsible Unit: Municipal Health Commission]
V. Promoting TCM Culture and Expanding Its Cultural Influence
(19) Disseminating TCM Stories
Organize and carry out the “Traditional Chinese Medicine Is Right by Your Side” health lecture tour; conduct activities to bring TCM culture into communities, enterprises, and government agencies; and host the “Qihuang Campus Tour” to increase the dissemination of TCM health knowledge in primary and secondary schools. Leverage the power of the media to conduct in-depth publicity and foster a positive social atmosphere where TCM is trusted, appreciated, and utilized.In 2025, organize the “Traditional Chinese Medicine Culture Service Week” event at national TCM cultural publicity and education bases. [Responsible Units: Municipal Health Commission, Municipal Education Bureau, Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, and Tourism, Municipal Party Committee Publicity Department]
(20) Creating Cultural Masterpieces
We will deeply explore the cultural essence of TCM, study rare editions of ancient TCM texts, and promote the popularization of classical works. We will establish TCM-themed districts, experience centers, and specimen galleries, produce short videos to disseminate knowledge of Chinese herbal medicines, and build distinctive local cultural brands. In 2025, we will organize TCM cultural night markets for public benefit, achieving 100% coverage across all districts and counties.Organize the “Traditional Chinese Medicine Culture Festival” series of events annually. [Responsible Units: Municipal Health Commission, Municipal Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau, Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, and Tourism]
(21) Promoting Cooperation and Exchange
Promote the global outreach of Nantong’s traditional Chinese medicine. Advance the international TCM cooperation project “China (Jiangsu)–Uzbekistan Traditional Chinese Medicine Center,” led by the Haian Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, by establishing relevant talent exchange centers and training bases to promote distinctive diagnostic and therapeutic techniques. Provide TCM services for overseas Chinese to expand the international influence of traditional Chinese medicine. [Responsible Units: Municipal Health Commission, Municipal United Front Work Department, Municipal Foreign Affairs Office, Municipal Commerce Bureau, People’s Governments of all counties (cities, districts), and Management Committees of all municipal-level direct-affiliated industrial parks]
VI. Promote Integrated Development and Achieve Industrial Upgrading
(22) Developing the Traditional Chinese Medicine Health Industry
Integrate the city’s TCM cultural resources, support the R&D, production, and sales of TCM cultural and creative products, and build a TCM industrial chain. Leveraging Nantong’s geographical advantages, resource endowments, cultural heritage, and industrial foundation, we will establish a rational model for the development of the TCM industry. We will promote the rapid development of TCM cultivation, processing, production, trade, as well as health products and services, making it a key growth driver within the modern industrial system.[Responsible Units: Municipal Health Commission, Municipal Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Municipal Bureau of Natural Resources and Planning, Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology, Municipal Bureau of Commerce; People’s Governments of all counties (cities, districts); Management Committees of all municipal-level industrial parks]
(23) Develop Traditional Chinese Medicine Health Tourism
Leveraging local tourism resources, develop TCM health tourism routes and products. Establish digital experience centers for TCM culture, integrate TCM wellness and health preservation services, develop wellness products, and standardize the management of TCM wellness and health preservation institutions. [Responsible Units: Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, and Tourism; Municipal Health Commission; Municipal Market Regulation Bureau; Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau; People’s Governments of all counties (cities, districts); and Management Committees of all municipal-level industrial parks]
(24) Building Industrial Parks
With the goal of fostering leading enterprises and innovating renowned medicines, cultivate well-known enterprises specializing in innovative TCM decoction piece processing and proprietary Chinese medicine manufacturing, aggregate industrial resources, and create a cluster effect. Enhance the efficiency of the TCM Formulation Center and accelerate the commercialization of in-hospital formulation research outcomes. [Responsible Units: Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology, Municipal Market Supervision Bureau, Municipal Health Commission, Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, People’s Governments of all counties (cities, districts), and Management Committees of all municipal-level industrial parks]
(25) Promoting the Integration of Industry, Academia, Research, and Application
Strengthen cooperation among TCM research institutions, universities, and enterprises, and increase investment in research and development. Utilize cooperation and exchange platforms to connect with TCM industry-academia-research institutions both within and outside the province, and promote the transformation and application of scientific research achievements. [Responsible Units: Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Health Commission; People’s Governments of all counties (cities, districts); Management Committees of all municipal-level industrial parks]
(26) Expanding the Scope for Integrated Development
Guide elderly care institutions to organize TCM health preservation activities, promote traditional sports such as Tai Chi and Baduanjin, and host “TCM Health Preservation Exercises Competitions.” Promote the integrated development of TCM with industries such as elderly care, maternal and child health, science and technology, and culture to form a TCM health service development model with Nantong characteristics. [Responsible Units: Municipal Bureau of Civil Affairs, Municipal Health Commission, People’s Governments of all counties (cities, districts), and Management Committees of all municipal-level direct-affiliated industrial parks]
