WHO decided to convene a meeting of experts to evaluate the role of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in the treatment of COVID-19. The subsequent Expert Meeting on Evaluation of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Treatment of COVID-19 was held virtually from 28 February to 02 March 2022.21 international experts from the six WHO regions participated in the meeting to discuss the research report on the evaluation of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of COVID-19 submitted by China’s National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine(NATCM), and consequently formed and published the meeting report. It fully affirmed the contribution of TCM in combating the COVID-19 pandemic.

Xin Sun of the Chinese Center for Evidence-Based Medicine of West China Hospital was hired as the leader of NATCM’s "evidence-based evaluation team for the treatment of COVID-19 with traditional Chinese medicine", leading a number of methodological and clinical experts to conduct research in China. During the three-day WHO expert evaluation meeting on the treatment of COVID-19 with TCM, he delivered a special report on behalf of NATCM, explaining the therapeutic effect of traditional Chinese medicine on COVID-19. His report was unanimously recognized by the WHO expert group, leaders of NATCM and the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences as well as participating experts.

After the meeting, NATCM sent a letter of thanks to Xin Sun for his important contribution to the successful completion of the WHO evaluation of the effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine in combating COVID-19. The letter reads in Chinese: "On February 12, 2022, our Bureau established an evidence-based research report drafting group for the treatment of COVID-19 with Professor Xin Sun of the Chinese Center for Evidence-Based Medicine of West China Hospital of your university as the group leader. He quickly organized a team to scientifically evaluate and summarize the clinical evidence of COVID-19 treatment with traditional Chinese medicine, and wrote an evidence-based research report on the treatment of COVID-19 with traditional Chinese medicine. He demonstrated excellent scientific literacy and academic level.”

Prof. Sun (second from left) on the “Focus” program on CCTV-1 News.

Prof. Sun reported the evidence-based evaluation results of the therapeutic effect of traditional Chinese medicine on COVID-19 to the WHO expert group at the conference.

CCTV News also made an in-depth report of Xin Sun's work report and discussion with WHO experts at the evaluation meeting in its special program "the power of traditional Chinese medicine in the war against COVID-19”.