Table 2.

Differences during modern development.

	TCM	TTM
Time of revival	Around 2003, after the outbreak of “SARS”	Around 1978, after the proclamation of the Alma-Ata Declaration when WHO urged its member countries to include traditional medicine and medicinal plants in their PHC program.
Major reasons for revival	Growing national strength and revival of Chinese culture Outstanding medical results and high degree of popularity among the common people Awareness of the limitations of modern medicine Governmental support and help	WHO policy on indigenous medicine and PHC High cost of modern medicine and loss of self-reliance in health care Awareness of the limitations of modern medicine Potential of herbal products and the practice of TTM for economy Good example of success of China and India concerning the integration of traditional medical knowledge with modern medicine in their national health systems
Responsible Government Agency	State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of PRC	Department for the Development of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM)
Status in the National Health System	Same as western medicine	Traditional and alternative medicine
National Development Policy	Five basic principles: “lay equal stress on TCM and Western medicine”, “adhere to the dialectical unity of inheritance and innovation”, “integration of Chinese traditional with Western medicine”, “promote the comprehensive development of TCM” and “strengthen governmental support”	Five strategies: knowledge development and management, development of health service system, human resource development, TTM and herbal medicines development, protection of Thai traditional knowledge related to TTM and Thai herbs