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Traditional Chinese medicine under attack from illegal ads

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-01-13 23:16

"Illegal TCM ads are full of unscientific and exaggerating statements, and have damaged the public image of TCM," Lu said.

Lu and his colleagues conducted a survey of experts, government officials and the public last year that showed misleading TCM ads was a part of the reason why some people denied TCM treatment.

The media was mainly to blame for the long-standing problem of illegal ads, because their advertising examiners failed in their duty to establish the validity of ads, the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (SATCM) said in a statement on Tuesday.

"Some profit-driven media advertising departments open the doors to illegal TCM ads," said the statement.

A total of 42 TCM advertisement licenses were revoked on the grounds of illicit content last year, but the total number approved is unknown. In 2007, the authorities approved 16,365 medical ads, and 122 licenses were revoked.

The SATCM pledged to further negotiate with media regulators this year to punish irresponsible advertising examiners and eradicate illegal ads.

"It's an uphill task fighting illegal TCM ads, and it demands particular effort from the media," Lu said.

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