Chapter 133 Medicine is also the foundation of the country
The delegates were arguing, and the leaders at the main seat were talking in low voices. Ms. Deng tapped the microphone lightly, signaling for silence.
"Comrade Hongmin, we don't have a patent policy now. What are the advantages and disadvantages after we align with international standards?"
The representatives looked at Liu Hongmin. They also wanted to know. No matter what they thought, they all wanted the country to be strong and prosperous.
Liu Hongmin said: "If we align with international patents, the advantages and disadvantages will be very obvious."
"The benefit is that our products will be more easily accepted by the international market. As exports increase, our tax revenue and foreign exchange reserves will also increase."
"The downside is what I just said, many foreign patents have been used in my country for thousands of years. Let me take traditional Chinese medicine as an example. During the war, my country lost a large number of medical books, and many of the prescriptions in these books were registered as patents. If we fully accept the foreign patent system, then our doctors will not be able to use these registered prescriptions at will."
"As we accept all international patents, we have to pay patent fees. Many life-saving prescriptions cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. With the exchange rate of RMB to USD, our employees simply cannot afford to pay this money. If they don't use it, their employees will die. If they use it, their company will have no way to survive. Our ultimate ideal is to get rid of the exploitation of capitalists. And patents are an important means of exploitation by capitalists."
"We can pay royalties for patents that have cost us a lot of capital. But if we still have to pay royalties for patents that have been snatched away, we are just being fools. The capitalists will only laugh at us for being stupid and having a lot of money, and then exploit us even more."
The representatives started discussing again, saying that it was indeed not acceptable to give people money for free.
Ms. Deng asked: "Given the current international situation, we don't have much choice."
Liu Hongmin pointed to the person being pointed at, "Then take advantage of the Americans' fear of the Soviet Union and join GATT within a few years."
GATT is the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, the predecessor of the WTO. If we could join GATT before the collapse of the Soviet Union, it would be very beneficial to the development of our country.
The most important point is that there are only more than 20 countries in GATT. Although joining such an international trade block now will allow a large number of foreign products to enter the country, it can also allow the country to obtain a large number of technologies and export opportunities.
Of course, the Americans will not easily allow our country to join GATT, but as long as we reach a certain agreement with GATT, it will be of great benefit to our country.
Ms. Deng: "I will convey this to the commercial and diplomatic departments. Patent issues are not decided by our country alone. It depends on the results of the negotiations."
Liu Hongmin nodded. "At present, my country does not have a patent protection agency. If we rush to align with the international standards, there will be huge risks. We can first improve the patent law and refuse to recognize patents such as Chinese medicine prescriptions. When we align with international patents, we can use the principle of seeking common ground while reserving differences to align with the international standards. If foreign countries accuse us of not respecting intellectual property rights, we have something to say. If that doesn't work, we can say that this is a patent system with Chinese characteristics."
The representatives nodded, thinking this was feasible. As for diplomatic issues, that was the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' business.
Ms. Deng: “In that case, let’s vote on this proposal by raising our hands.”
A number of representatives raised their hands. This proposal would benefit the country and the people and was highly feasible, so of course they would support it.
Once a proposal is passed, it does not necessarily mean that it will be implemented. The state still needs to consult with relevant people and then discuss it at a meeting to decide who will take the lead.
Tax reform is relatively simple, the tax department can take the lead. Patents are a bit more difficult, those who have enough qualifications don't understand, and those who understand don't have enough qualifications.
After Liu Hongmin finished his three proposals, he sat down and acted as a voting machine. He raised his hand to support any proposal that he thought would benefit the country and the people. He would raise his hand to oppose any proposal that would do more harm than good. After the meeting, reporters came to interview him immediately. Among these representatives, Liu Hongmin was the youngest, but he was the most famous.
"Comrade Hongmin, I heard that you have three proposals. Can you tell me what they are?"
Liu Hongmin said, "That is indeed the case, but further discussion is needed. If there is a result, we will let you know."
The reporter was speechless. It was the same as not saying anything. They asked, "Does it need to be kept secret?"
"That's about right!" Liu Hongmin said, "The only thing I can reveal now is that if the proposal is passed, it will be good news for traditional Chinese medicine."
The reporters looked at each other and asked, "Traditional Chinese Medicine? Comrade Hongmin, isn't Traditional Chinese Medicine feudal superstition?"
Liu Hongmin laughed, "What is feudal superstition? Feudal superstition is the belief that there are ghosts and gods in this world. Does traditional Chinese medicine say that there are ghosts and gods in this world?"
"I know some people have been suppressing and discrediting traditional Chinese medicine. I can tell you clearly that traditional Chinese medicine is the most cost-effective treatment method in the world. Western medicine uses machines worth hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars to take pictures, but they may not be as accurate as the pulse feeling of an old Chinese doctor."
"The reason why my country's medical level is backward is not because we don't have Western medical technology, but because a lot of traditional Chinese medicine technology has been plundered. I am not against the development of Western medicine, but I am against the behavior of stifling traditional Chinese medicine in order to develop Western medicine."
"Traditional Chinese medicine is also the foundation of our country. If we don't cherish it now, then when we encounter diseases in the future, we will have to start machines worth hundreds of millions of yuan at will, and we will have to undergo surgery if we are sick. Even if we pay high medical bills, we may not be able to cure the disease."
The reporters were all horrified when they heard this. If you put yourself in their shoes, a machine has a lifespan. How much does it cost to use a machine worth hundreds of millions of yuan? A few dozen yuan? A few hundred yuan? A few thousand yuan?
The examination fee alone is so high, so can the medical expenses be low?
They are all ordinary workers. It takes a year or even several years' salary to see a doctor. Who would dare to get sick in the future?
After the reporters returned, they wrote the article as quickly as possible. They wrote Liu Hongmin's words verbatim in the report, and at the end, they called on everyone to pay attention to traditional Chinese medicine.
If the situation Liu Hongmin described really happens, it will be misfortune for all ordinary people.
As soon as the report came out, it immediately attracted the attention of the whole society. Many people agreed with Liu Hongmin's idea, while others did not care and thought that Liu Hongmin was exaggerating.
Some people even think that Liu Hongmin is whitewashing traditional Chinese medicine and covering up the fact that traditional Chinese medicine is feudal superstition.
These people are firm supporters of Western medicine, believing that it is the best treatment method. Of course, it is not ruled out that foreign forces are playing tricks on them.
Some media outlets that claim to be open have attacked Liu Hongmin, believing him to be a feudal remnant and a supporter of the feudal dynasty. They also dug up the fact that he opened a film company and a toy factory in Hong Kong, saying that he was a capitalist.
He donated money to the Chinese Medicine Association because he wanted to gain benefits through Chinese medicine. The professors in the Chinese Medicine Association are the same as Liu Hongmin and are his accomplices.
(End of this chapter)
