China has achieved a significant milestone in traditional medicine with the official release of the Tibetan Medicine Disease Classification and Code, the country’s first national standard for disease categorization within an ethnic-minority medical system. The groundbreaking standard, developed under the guidance of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, is scheduled to take effect on April 1, 2026, according to the State Administration for Market Regulation.
Professor Mima, President of Xizang University of Tibetan Medicine and head of the Tibetan medicine standardization working group, emphasized that the new framework remains firmly rooted in core Tibetan medical theories while addressing contemporary clinical diagnostic requirements. The comprehensive system organizes treatable conditions into 15 major categories and 97 subcategories, establishing a detailed terminology and coding table that assigns unique identifiers to more than 3,000 specific diseases.
This development represents a transformative advancement in the formalization of traditional healing practices, providing a structured approach that will enhance the scientific development and standardization of Tibetan medical services nationwide. The establishment of this standardized classification system is expected to facilitate better integration with modern healthcare infrastructure while preserving the unique theoretical foundations of Tibetan medicine.