Pefots

The Launch of the Pan-European Federation of Traditional Chinese Medicine Societies

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.

29th September, 2001, this is a big day for all 120,000 Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners, researchers and related business trading companies in Europe. The Pan-European Federation of Traditional Chinese Medicine Societies (PEFOTS) is formally launched in Amsterdam. Over 150 guests and delegates attended the launching ceremony. Chinese Ambassador to The Netherlands, MR. ZHU Zusou, MR. Emiel van Galen, Head Section, Homeopathic, Deputy-Secretary to the Dutch Medicines Evaluation Board, also attended the launch ceremony. At the meeting, MR.Dong Zhilin was elected President, MR.Ramon.M.Calduch MR.Pedro Choy MR.Zhu Guoguang MR.Ke Songxuan MR.Carlo.M.Giovanardi Vice-Presidents, MR. Kwee Swan Hoo General Secretary and MRS. Zhu Miansheng additional board. The launch of the PEFOTS symbolises the unity of all TCM practitioners, ushering in a new phase for Chinese medicine, and a further development of Chinese medicine in Europe will be anticipated in the near future under the guidance of PEFOTS.

The Pan-European Federation of Traditional Chinese Medicine Societies is a non-governmental organisation, composed of TCM societies and organisations in Europe. All members have academic and research-institution background and are TCM practitioners.As we all know, traditional Chinese medicine has been practiced for over a thousand years. Chinese medicine is an unique medical system. This medical practice is able to complement western orthodox medicine and other alternative therapies. About 300 years ago, Chinese medicine reached the West, since then this medical practice has played an important role in the maintainance of the European people’s health and in combating diseases. Statistics show that there are over 120,000 qualified TCM practitioners in Europe who have gained proper training in Acupuncture and Chinese medicine either at European training institutes or at Universities and Colleges in the People’s Republic of China.Among these TCM practitioners, some were already qualified as general medical doctors, dentists and physiotherapists. Of these 120,000 TCM practitioners, most practice mainly acupuncture, only 30-40% are practising both acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. There are over 200 TCM institutes in Europe, where 3,000 TCM practitioners are trained each year. There are over 220 trade companies which import Chinese medicinal products. Unfortunately, there is no single organisation which co-ordinates and promotes TCM in Europe. The statutory status of TCM practitioners has not yet been formally recognised. The training programmes of TCM have not been recognised by the governments. The costs of Chinese medicine by the European consumers have not been completely covered by National Health Service. It is time to change these situations.

In order to do so, more than 55 delegates from 15 European countries, representing TCM associations and reseach institutes came to Amsterdam at the beginning of this year. After over-excited discussion, the delegates strongly felt that it is necessary to set up a Pan-European Federation of TCM Societies at this moment to co-ordinate and promote TCM in Europe. Fortunately, the Chinese government provided full support during the preparatory phase: Professor She Jing – Vice-Minister of the Health Department and Director of the State Administration for TCM visited the Netherlands early this year. After consultation with TCM experts and practitioners, Professor She Jing pointed out that unity of all TCM organisations is the only correct way to develop TCM in Europe. Unity will produce power to develop TCM.

The Pan-European Federation of Traditional Chinese Medicine Societies has been registered in the Netherlands on 29th September 2001. There are 60 TCM organisations and institutes from 18 countries who have joined the Federation. The general principal of the PEFOTS is to reinforce the unity of all TCM organisations; to promote the development of TCM in Europe. In order to achieve this purpose, the federation will emphasise the following aspects: the promotion of the integration of western medicine and Chinese medicine; the establishment of communication networks with the European Parliament; the promotion of the legislative procedure within the European Parliament; the promotion of the right image of TCM to the public; the establishment of a standardised code of ethics for TCM practitioners; to edit and publish standardised TCM textbooks and TCM journals. The Federation has set up five working committees: Legal Affairs Committee; Science and Education Committee; Public Relations Committee; Ethics Committee; Quality Control Committee. Each working committee has its own agenda and working proposals.

PEFOTS will invite senior officials and well-known scholars to act as senior advisors. Currently, Professor LI Zhen-ji, Vice-Minister of the State Administration for TCM, and Professor REN De-quan, Vice-Minister of State Administration for Drug Control Committee have accepted to be advisors of the federation. PEFOTS is facing a challenge in the new millennium. PEFOTS hopes that the federation will work in a more democratic and more broad-minded manner. At the moment, the federation is going to emphasise the following six points: educational, professional and reserch development - one academic conference and seminars on several topics will be organised each year to increase the quality of TCM praticse; communication with the European Parliament and governments so as to achieve the Statutory Legislation; establishment of a code of practice and a code of ethics for the practice of Chinese medicine and the protection of the public;to assist the government in controlling the quality of Chinese medicinal products; to harmonise europan teaching standard to publish TCM books and jounrals unification all TCM organisations and Societies.

The new federation realises that traditional Chinese medicine has been practiced for over two millennia. The efficacy and safety of Chinese medicine have been proven through thousands of years of clinical trials and current series of scientific research. This old healing art is a cultural heritage of mankind, belongs not only to China, but also to the whole world. It is gaining more and more popularity around the world today. We certainly have the confidence, under the support of all TCM people, to protect and develop this ancient healing art and lift it up to a higher stage in the new millennium.
4.To reinforce the quality control of Chinese medicinal products imported from China assisted by the government's medicines control agency.
5.To unite all organisations of TCM in Europe so as to set up a proper agenda in the near future;

We fully understand that as the first committee of the Pan-European Federation of Traditional Chinese Medicine Societies, we can expect huge work loads and extraordinary pressure, which must be overcome. However, we are also absolutely sure that with the support of all our TCM friends and colleagues, under the leadership of the Pan-European Federation of Traditional Chinese Medicine Societies, the future for the development of Chinese medicine in Europe is brighter and will become even more so.