Traditional Chinese medicine has become the latest industry to begin smartening up in readiness for China's WTO entry. Vice-Minister of Health Zhu Qingsheng said Thursday that the ancient school of medicine was a national treasure which had to stand up to the international challenges ahead.

"WTO entry means that our country will further open the domestic markets, including the medical service market, to outside players, which will bring about new challenges to the quality, service and management of traditional Chinese medicine," said Zhu, who is also the director of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (SATCM). He was speaking at a national conference in Beijing yesterday, attended by key figures in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

WTO will give TCM broader access to international markets, Zhu added.

"From now on, we must begin research on the challenges and opportunities that will come with our WTO entry," he said.

Zhu called on researchers and doctors to marry age-old TCM knowledge with modern techniques for a better mastery of traditional theories and prescriptions.

Exchanges with practitioners in other places, especially Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan,will also reinforce the mainland's power in developing and industrializing traditional Chinese medicine, he said.

At home, adjusting the organizational structure and the development of traditional medicine in rural areas will top the administration's agenda this year.

The administration will begin to categorize its establishments, classing them as market-oriented and non-profitable.

It will improve the traditional Chinese medicine facilities and services, which are usually cheaper than western medicines, in rural areas.