Development of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Iraq / 国际中医中药杂志

ABSTRACT

Iraq is a multi-ethnic, multi-religious federal country located in southwest Asia and northeast of the Arabian Peninsula. Medical insurance is based on the primary health care model, supplemented by private medical care. Traditional medicine in Iraq is dominated by Islamic medicine. With the support of the Chinese government, the first Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) center was established in 2000. However, due to safety issues, the management of the center had problems such as insufficient staff, limited medical experience, and non-persistentsupport. At present, TCM has not been included in the Iraqi medical insurance system, which has affected the people’s medical choice and hindered the development of TCM. It is recommended to strengthen the construction of existing TCM centers, improve the accessibility of TCM education, and strengthen the cooperation and exchanges of traditional medicine between the two countries to promote the spread and development of TCM in Iraq.