The modernization of traditional Chinese medicine and the manufacture of bio-pharmaceuticals will become key development areas in China's medical science sector, according to a new policy issued Wednesday.

The Medical Science and Technology Policy jointly released by the Ministry of Science and Technology, the State Economic and Trade Commission and the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine analyses the status and challenges of the Chinese medical industry.

The policy makes clear the major tasks and development direction of the medical science sector, and calls for introduction of advanced technology to promote the modernization of research, development and techniques for the production of traditional Chinese medicine. Information technology will be used to establish a creation system for traditional Chinese medicine.

Developing gene technology, which represents the future of biological technology, is another important task for the future of the medical industry, according to the policy.

Since the 1980s, the world medical industry has grown at an average annual rate of eight percent, becoming one of key fields of global scientific and economic competition.

He Xingdong, an official with the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, said medical science and technology and the industry in China have achieved great progress over the past two decades.

The total output value of the medical industry grew by nearly 18 percent year-on-year, and the industry has become one of the fastest growing industries in China, the official said.

Shi Dinghuan, spokesman of the Ministry of Science and Technology, said the medical science and technology policy would play a positive role in solving the problems faced by China's medical industry and further promote its modernization.

(Xinhua News Agency September 19, 2002)