Chen Zhen (C), president of the Association of Chinese Medicine Academies of Central and Eastern Europe, receives an award during the 17th National Public Health Conference in Budapest, Hungary, Jan. 14, 2026. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) gained recognition in Hungary after a prominent Chinese medical expert was honored at a national public health conference Wednesday, highlighting the growing integration of TCM into the country's healthcare and prevention system.(Photo by David Balogh/Xinhua)
BUDAPEST, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) gained recognition in Hungary after a prominent Chinese medical expert was honored at a national public health conference Wednesday, highlighting the growing integration of TCM into the country's healthcare and prevention system.
Chen Zhen, president of the Association of Chinese Medicine Academies of Central and Eastern Europe, was awarded an Honorary Certificate of Recognition during the 17th National Public Health Conference held at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.
The event, organized under Hungary's Comprehensive Health Protection Screening Program (MAESZ), celebrated the "3,000 Locations Jubilee" of the nationwide prevention initiative. Supported by various government bodies, the program focuses on health screenings, disease prevention, and public awareness.
Chen, widely known as "Dr. Chen" in Hungary, noted that Chinese medical experts have provided free consultations across the country for 25 years.
"Over these 25 years, many people have incorporated TCM into their lives," Chen said, adding that TCM's emphasis on prevention and healthy lifestyles aligns with Hungary's current healthcare priorities.
Hungary passed legislation in 2013 and issued implementation decrees in 2015, which granted legal status to TCM practitioners to practice independently and provided a solid legal foundation for the integration of TCM into the national healthcare system.
Launched in 2010, MAESZ is Hungary's largest health protection program. To date, it has provided free tests to nearly 1,000,000 participants across 3,000 locations via mobile clinics, supported by a coalition of 96 professional organizations.
Istvan Barna, chairman of the professional committee of MAESZ, told Xinhua that TCM plays a vital complementary role alongside Western medicine.
"Its role is clearly on the same level as that of Western medicine. It represents a different approach in both diagnostics and therapy, and this offers significant opportunities for the Hungarian population," Barna said.
Barna emphasized that TCM is integrated into the program's prevention activities, including movement therapy and specialized therapeutic methods.
"I believe this helps us to disseminate the knowledge and scientific approach that has long been practiced in China and that we can also put to good use here," he added. ■
Istvan Barna, chairman of the professional committee of Hungary's Comprehensive Health Protection Screening Program (MAESZ), speaks during the 17th National Public Health Conference in Budapest, Hungary, Jan. 14, 2026. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) gained recognition in Hungary after a prominent Chinese medical expert was honored at a national public health conference Wednesday, highlighting the growing integration of TCM into the country's healthcare and prevention system.(Photo by David Balogh/Xinhua)