The Pan-European Federation of Traditional Chinese Medicine Societies was established on 29 September 2001 in Amsterdam. About 150 guests and delegates from 18 European countries were present at the launching ceremony, including the Chinese ambassador to the Netherlands, Mr. Zhu Zusou and Mr. Emiel van Galen, head section Homeopathic and deputy-secretary of Dutch Medical Evaluation Board.

 

 

In Europe there are about 120,000 qualified TCM practitioners who have studied TCM at an European institute or at a college or university in China. There are 200 TCM institutes from which some 3,000 students graduate each year and 220 business enterprises which import Chinese medicinal products. PEFOTS as organisation is especially established to coordinate and stimulate the practice of TCM in Europe. It will promote an unified approach amongst the TCM societies in the several European member states. About 60 TCM societies and 18 European countries are already participating in PEFOTS.

 

TCM has been practised for over 3,000 years. Based on its own unique medical system, it can be used to complement Western medicine and other alternative methods of health care. However, TCM practitioners still face problems regarding official recognition and compensation by health care insurance companies.

 

One of PEFOTS’ aims is to bring about a change in this situation. The main goals of PEFOTS are: to develop TCM education, TCM profession and research; to hold a yearly academic conference with seminars focused on various themes to enhance the quality of TCM practice; to hold discussions with governments and the European Parliament with the aim of achieving legal recognition for TCM; to develop ethical standards for the practice of TCM and for the protection of the public; to support governments in the quality control of Chinese medicinal products; to harmonize the standards for TCM education and the publishing of TCM books and journals and to further the unification of TCM.