Taiwan to allow pharmacy graduates to sell traditional Chinese medicine

台灣將允許藥學系畢業生可銷售中藥

Plan to revive traditional Chinese medicine sector faces backlash from medical groups


TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Health and Welfare said Wednesday that a policy unveiled in March, allowing pharmacy graduates to sell traditional Chinese medicine, will take effect in July.

Su Yi-chang (蘇奕彰), director of the Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy Department at the ministry, said that about 40% of pharmacy graduates in Taiwan do not obtain a pharmacist license after graduation. He noted that those who complete the required coursework and training will be eligible to sell traditional Chinese medicine, per CNA.

Su said the number of traditional Chinese medicine businesses in Taiwan has declined significantly over the past 20 years, from 15,800 to 7,478. He added that traditional Chinese medicine extends beyond medical uses, finding applications in products such as cleaning supplies, fragrances, and religious incense. Su said the policy will also help slow the decline of the industry in Taiwan.

However, the program sparked strong opposition among medical associations. The National Union of Chinese Medicine Association urged the government to establish a clearly defined medical system that ensures sound education and licensing for traditional Chinese medicine practitioners. It added that traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine are two different systems, emphasizing that practitioners should choose to practice in one field only.

The Federation of Taiwan Pharmacists Associations said the program ignores professional oversight, enabling pharmacy graduates to sell traditional Chinese medicine without undergoing any licensing exams.

According to the Taiwan Traditional Chinese Medicine Industry Association, there is a serious imbalance between Western and traditional Chinese medicine industries in Taiwan, with the number of Western pharmacies far exceeding traditional Chinese ones. Additionally, salaries for Western medicine practitioners are significantly higher than those for their traditional Chinese counterparts.

The association also expressed concern that the traditional Taiwan's Chinese medicine industry could collapse. It added that the decline of traditional Chinese medicine shops is partly due to the widespread adoption of Western medicine, which has significantly reduced demand for traditional remedies.

Additionally, Taiwan's National Health Insurance does not cover medicine picked up from traditional Chinese medicine shops. As a result, most individuals get their prescriptions filled at TCM clinics, which has made it harder for traditional herbal shops to survive.