The Formation of the CMC

The Chinese Medical Council (CMC), formerly known as Chinese Medicine Council, was formed after much deliberation since the Chinese Medicine Legislation Forum (CMLF) on 29th April 2003. The concept of a council to regulate the Chinese medicine and to ensure the safety and standards has been explored in many meetings participated by different organizations within the Chinese medicine community, culminated in the formation of Legislative Association for Chinese Medicine (LACM) and the Chinese Medicine Alliance (CMA).

During the process of the ARWG, HMRWG and the DOH consultation papers the Chinese medicine community realizes that academic societies or federations are not enough. The Chinese medicine community needs an authoritative council with the help of the government to regulate the profession and the Chinese medicine industry. The CMC will take in the experience of the BAcC in self regulation leading to statutory recognition in the current legislation process. This is a necessary step for the Chinese medicine, and this is also a necessary precondition for the Chinese medicine community to ensure collaboration with DOH in an effective capacity for safety, quality and excellence in practice. The CMC will also be able to ensure a positive future for Chinese medicine within the UK healthcare system.

The CMC can only work effectively with the full recognition and collaboration of the government. If the current proposal to set up a CAM Council with two registering bodies of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine is pursuited. This will alienate the Chinese medicine community. The evolution of CMC from a self regulatory status to a statutory body or part of a statutory body will depend on the government’s intention in giving the Chinese medicine a rightful position to determine its future. Recognising and backing the CMC within the proposed legislation will ensure the co-operation of the Chinese medicine community.