HARARE, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe's largest referral hospital here has established a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) clinic and is applying for an official license to open, according to the country's ministry of health and child care.

Jasper Chimedza, permanent secretary of the ministry, said Tuesday in a memo to the Natural Therapist Council of Zimbabwe, "The clinic is now ready for inspection and licensing."

"We kindly request that you expedite the licensing of the Clinic so that it can be officially opened. We request that the Council license and register practitioners for the clinic too," added Chimedza.

Zimbabwe's Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals has established the TCM clinic following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between China and Zimbabwe on cooperation in the field of TCM and acupuncture.

WFAS International Symposium on Acupuncture-Moxibustion is the most renowned international meeting specialized in acupuncture-moxibustion of traditional Chinese medicine hosted by the World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Societies (WFAS), which has been held for 28 times in different countries in the world in the past 34 years. In November 2020, WFAS 2020 International Symposium on Acupuncture-Moxibustion & 10^th Anniversary of the Inscription of Acupuncture and Moxibustion of Traditional Chinese Medicine in UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity was successfully held in Haikou China and broadcasted online, joined by more than 700 onsite delegates and 10 million online viewers.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, WFAS 2021 International Symposium on Acupuncture-Moxibustion, which was originally scheduled in New York, USA, has to be rearranged to take place in Zhuhai China. Meanwhile, online sessions and live broadcasts will be held welcoming those who cannot attend the on-site conference.

The Symposium intends to build a platform for exchanges of latest data, views and expert experience as well as information of regulations, technologies and services in terms of acupuncture-moxibustion of traditional Chinese medicine, featuring its role in building a global community of health for all and its unique value as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Guided by WHO’s Traditional Medicine Strategy, topics of the Symposium will cover a wide range from theoretical study, scientific research, clinical experience, education, rehabilitation, to development strategy, standardization, property rights protection, cultural communication etc.

If you are currently based in mainland China and are interested in joining the Zhuhai onsite session in person, please contact the Secretariat of WFAS via email <contact@wfas.org.cn> requiring announcement (which is in Chinese only).

Registration is now open for WFAS 2021 online sessions, please go to the following link to register FOR FREE.

https://jinshuju.net/f/VraqbS

Information and link to watch live broadcasts will be continuously updated on this webpage so it is strongly recommended you save and follow this page.

Date

14 December 2021. Please see details on the page of each online session.

Theme

TCM Acupuncture-Moxibustion Contributes to Building a Global Community of Health for All

Language

English (Chinese language is available for only some of the sessions such as the opening ceremony)

Watch Online

https://m.yuge.com/authorize/dist/view/foreignLive.html?itemId=18#/shortList?_k=mvf1iv

https://wx.vzan.com/live/mk/aggspread/294099/e09493bf-575b-11ec-885d-246e9640d67a?v=1638881266568

https://youtu.be/ceURrAXqY2k

Online sessions in schedule (click to see details)

l WFAS 2021 Online Session USA☚

l China-Central and Eastern European Countries Traditional Medicine Forum☚

l China-African Countries Traditional Medicine Forum☚

l the training session of WFAS “The Belt and Road” International Education and Training (Evaluation) Center of Acupuncture-Moxibustion of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Philippines☚

And delegates may watch online live broadcasts of Zhuhai onsite conference:

l Opening Ceremony

l Keynote speeches

l Combination of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine - the International Forum on Respiratory Health

Topics to be discussed

1. Scientific and technological innovation, and platform building for achievement transformation regarding acupuncture-moxibustion and traditional Chinese medicine.

2. Medical service and talent cultivation of TCM.

3. Popularization and application of appropriate techniques of acupuncture-moxibustion and TCM.

4. Quality standard and trade of products related with acupuncture-moxibustion, Chinese herbal medicine and so on.

5. Basic research, equipment development, as well as transformation and application of TCM acupuncture-moxibustion.

6. Preventative and therapeutic effects of TCM acupuncture-moxibustion in public health emergency, critical illnesses, geriatric disorders and chronic diseases.

7. Clinical evaluation, standardization, normalization, and protection of intellectual property of TCM acupuncture-moxibustion.

8. Inheritance education, representative schools, culture communication and trade of services related with TCM acupuncture-moxibustion.

9. Progress in interdisciplinary research between traditional medicine including TCM acupuncture- moxibustion and biological medicine, information technology, etc.

For Inquiries

contact@wfas.org.cn

Today the Ministry of Health announced that Chinese Medicine is to be included under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act (2003).

“This is a welcome decision” says Robin Kerr, President of Acupuncture New Zealand (AcNZ). “Inclusion under the Act will provide greater assurance of safety and competence for the public of New Zealand. It will support patient centred practice through stronger collaboration with GPs and other health providers as recommended by the Health and Safety Review 2020”.

The decision brings the more than 1200 practitioners of acupuncture and Chinese medicine into line with other Allied Health professionals in New Zealand and with our colleagues in Australia. Acupuncture NZ has been a member of Allied Health Aotearoa NZ (AHANZ) since 2008. Chinese medicine became a registered profession in Australia in 2012.

Acupuncture is widely accepted as being of value in the treatment of musculo-skeletal injuries, having been covered by ACC since 1990. In recent weeks the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in the UK included acupuncture as a recommended treatment for the treatment of chronic pain.

Increasingly, both here in New Zealand and overseas, it is playing an important role in the treatment of a wide range of conditions, both in private clinics and within the hospital setting. Many oncology units in American hospitals now include an acupuncturist on their staff as it is invaluable in reducing side effects which may be experienced from radiology or chemotherapy. Acupuncture has repeatedly been demonstrated to improve quality of life outcomes for many conditions.

In recent years, more robust scientific studies completed by universities and hospitals have shown quite unequivocally that Chinese medicine has an important role to play in health care. In February this year there were close to 15,000 studies on acupuncture listed on the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials.

Recognition of Chinese Medicine comes at a time when the health care system in New Zealand is undergoing major changes as a result of the Health and Disabilities Service review 2020. There is already growing public and professional recognition of the wide range of health benefits of Chinese medicine. With a history of many thousands of years and backed by recent and robust science, Chinese Medicine and acupuncture practitioners are now set to become recognised, regulated health professionals.

The new Responsible Authority (RA) will be known as the Chinese Medicine Council of New Zealand.