Thailand Issues First Batch of Physician Licenses for Chinese MedicineThe Thai government on Tuesday issued first batch of physician licenses for Chinese medicine to 11 local doctors after it legalized the Chinese medicine last July."The Chinese medicine has a long history in the country and has been proved to be a effective way to cure diseases and maintain health, and as more and more doctors will get the licenses, Thai people will have more options in their health care," said Korn Dabbaransi, deputy prime minister and health minister, after conferring the licenses to the doctors at a ceremony. "As the chairman of the Thai-Chinese Friendship Association, I believe the medical cooperation between the two countries, especially on Chinese medicine, will benefit the two peoples, and further promote bilateral ties," he said. Chinese Ambassador to Thailand Fu Xuezhang hailed the event as "a new achievement in the medical cooperation between China and Thailand." "It is also a good start point for our cooperation in the new century, I believe the Sino-Thai exchange and cooperation in the medical areas will be further strengthened and consolidated in the future," he said. Reports said since the legalization of the Chinese medicine in the Thailand, there is a fever among local doctors to apply for the licenses. Hundreds of Chinese medicine physicians handed over their applications. However, it is not easy to get the licenses since the applicants must have at least 10 years of medical experience and should pass the strict tests of a expert committee. The second batch of such licenses is expected to be issued by May. The recent years has witness a increasing cooperation between China and Thailand on medical areas, especially Chinese medicine. The two countries have so far signed two Memorandum of Understanding on medical cooperation, in 1997 and 2000, respectively. Under the documents, the health ministers of two countries will meet regularly every year, and China will help Thailand to develop into the education, treatment and research center for Chinese medicine in the Southeast Asia. |
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