The Chinese government has declared a classic book on Tibetan medicine to be listed as national heritage in a bid to protect and preserve the knowledge about the endangered ethnic medicine, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
A regional Tibetan medicine hospital in Tibet Autonomous Region said that the Four Volumes of Medicine (FVM) has been chosen to become part of China's national file and literature heritage.
First published in Tibet in 1546, the FVM is widely regarded as the most systematic and most complete book on Tibetan medicine. It consists of 156 chapters.
Yeshe Yangzom, head of the Tibetan hospital, said that listing the classic book would help not only to pass on a historical heritage, but also raise public awareness for its preservation.
The report said that the regional government is also planning to apply to have the book included in the international heritage lists, such as UNESCO's Memory of the World Programme, to make Tibetan medicine more recognized and better protected.
Tibetan medicine dates back to more than 2,300 years and has become one of China's most influential medical subjects.
According to the report, China has spent about 43 million yuan ($6.9 million) to develop Tibetan medicine last year.
To promote the use of traditional medicine, the State Council has recently issued a five-year plan for the development of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), aimed at increasing its presence in health care and boost its competitive edge in international medicine.
The national plan would also include making TCM resources as the basis for passing down and developing the heritage of traditional Chinese medicine, which the State Council also considers as significant to the national welfare and the people's livelihood.
The five-year plan would also enable government to undertake reforms in medical-related laws from 2015 to 2020 to improve public health. This also includes the promotion of the TCM culture by integrating traditional medicine on various health services offered in community health centers, township medical facilities and village clinics.