The Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council on July 24 released the draft Law of the People's Republic of China on Traditional Chinese Medicines (the "Draft Law") for public comment until August 23, 2014.
According to the Draft Law, as part of efforts to develop traditional Chinese medicine ("TCM") culture, the Chinese government will include the building of the TCM culture into the culture development plan and define October 11 of each year as the "TCM Day". It also encourages and supports the establishment of TCM medical institutions with social capital, clarifying that any TCM medical institution established with social capital shall have equal rights with government-established TCM institutions in respect of access and practice, while a government-established TCM institution shall not merge, cancel or change its nature as a TCM medical institution without authorization.