Weekly snapshot of Chinese health news

The following are the highlights of CHINA's key health news from the past week:

-- CHINA to boost development of traditional CHINESE medicine

CHINA will roll out a host of measures to boost the development of traditional CHINESE medicine (TCM), according to a statement issued by the National Administration of Traditional CHINESE Medicine.

The administration vowed to further regulate TCM health care services, and to greatly improve the capacity and system of technological innovation in TCM.

Efforts will also be made to further standardize the TCM industry and expedite the fourth national survey on medicinal resources in the country. It's necessary to focus on training of TCM professionals as well, according to the statement.

-- CHINA establishes special committee for national nutrition plan

CHINA has created a special committee to implement the country's national nutrition plan, according to the National Health Commission (NHC).

Jointly established by NHC and 17 other government departments to coordinate and advance nutrition and health-related work, the national nutrition and health committee held its inaugural meeting on Feb. 28 in Beijing.

Among its key jobs are improving food nutrition and health standards that build upon food safety, and establishing subcommittees at local levels to organize nutrition education and training, to conduct pilot programs and spread scientific knowledge in this regard.

-- CHINA moves to expand cancer medicine access

CHINA's recent policy to increase patients' access to cancer medicines has helped more people receive quality treatment, said the Beijing-based newspaper Health News Wednesday.

The CHINESE government has introduced several policies to reduce cancer patients' medical expenses and increase the supply of the latest cancer medicines.