Hungary is the first and only country in Europe to legislate TCM. Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in Europe, Chinese in Hungary have used TCM to help each other and local Hungarians fighting the epidemic.

First, Timely Donating TCM Drugs to Oversea Chinese in Italy

Since the beginning of March, the epidemic situation in Italy has become more and more serious. Dr. Chen Zhen, founder of Oriental Herbs Co., received an urgent order from Zhejiang Province to purchase some TCM patent medicines donating to overseas Chinese in Italy from Zhejiang. On March 2, 27 boxes of medicines were quickly delivered from Budapest to Italy.

Chen Zhen set up the first Chinese-owned natural medicine pharmaceutical factory in Europe that complies with the European Union's Good Manufacture Practice of Medical Products（GMP）. After the outbreak of COVID-19, he used nearly 100 kilograms of locally grown traditional Chinese herb medicines (TCHMS) to make “Huashi Fangwen Decoction”, a improved formula based on the diagnosis and treatment protocol provided by National Health Commission and TCM diagnosis and treatment protocol provided by relevant provinces. 6000 packets of the Decoction have so far been donated to overseas Chinese communities.

Chen Zhen said that hundreds of TCHMS were found in Hungary, which share the same family as those in China. Hungarians are familiar with these natural aromatic flavors. TCHMS are widely used among Hungarian public and in hospitals, and Hungarian people like the decoction.

Aodila is a reporter of a newspaper. The preventive decoction is more like a health tea to him. Aodila said: "Not like western medicine drugs, TCM drugs do not have many side effects. Acupuncture can even cure many diseases that western medicine cannot."

In addition to being sold in Hungary, the decoction is also sold in Italy, France, Romania, Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro and other countries.

Second, TCM Yields “Flower of Friendship”

After thirty years of efforts by oversea Chinese, TCM has laid a good foundation among Hungarians. People there understand the concept of "prevention first ", and "Prevention is better than cure" has a fixed, proper translation in Hungary.

In 2013, Hungary began the work to legislate for TCM; in 2014, the Chinese and Hungarian governments signed an agreement on cooperation in the field of TCM; in 2015, Hungary formally promulgated and implemented TCM law. In 2016, Hungarian government issued European Union Medical Practice License to TCM doctors, thus ending the history that TCM doctors carrying out medical practice must be under the supervision of Western medicine doctors. TCM doctors can conduct independent medical practice from then on. Hungary is the first and only country in Europe to legislate for TCM, and is the only country in the history of European Union to acknowledge the five-year undergraduate diploma of TCM Universities in China.

Regarding the special treatment of TCM in Hungary, Chen Zhen said that in recent years, under the framework of “Belt and Road” and with the promotion of “17 + 1” Central and Eastern European Development Mechanism, TCM in Hungary is ushering in great development opportunities. The popularity of TCM in Hungary is unique in EU, and Hungarian people really trust TCM.

Hungarians love reading, and they view TCM works as health "Bibles". TCM culture has entered the daily lives of Hungarian people. In winter, Hungarians also learn the Cantonese way of making soup with TCM herbs.

Former Hungarian Prime Minister Megyessy Peter said recently that China's experience in fighting the epidemic is worth learning by all countries. TCM culture is a part of world civilization and TCM treatment is very effective with low cost. I have confidence in TCM.