The Central Council of Tibetan Medicine (Che-thoe-men-pai-lhen-tsog) was formed in Dharamsala, India in January 2004 to find way to solve the problems faced by the Tibetan physicians. It was established after the ‘Exile Tibetan Sorig Doctors’ Association Act’ was passed by the 13^th Assembly of the Tibetan People’s Deputies, Government of Tibet in Exile, during its 5^th session in 2003, with the final approval by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.  It is now the apex body of all Traditional Tibetan physicians in Exile.    

Tibetan medical tradition witnessed the darkest period in its history after the Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1959. Hundreds of medical scriptures were destroyed and hundreds of famous traditional Tibetan physicians were persecuted during the Cultural Revolution. Medical schools were closed and demolished by the Chinese. However, the Tibetan Government in Exile under the dynamic leadership of His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been successful in preserving and promoting Tibetan medical tradition in India for more than four decades.

Traditional Tibetan medicine today is known worldwide for its efficacy against chronic diseases and there are many testimonies to support this.  Traditional Tibetan physicians still face a number of difficulties in their endeavors to continue their practice.  Lack of formal recognition of Tibetan medicine and its practitioners worldwide is one of the main sources of these difficulties.   As part of the goals and objectives established by the Central Council of Tibetan Medicine, the Accreditation Program is designed to develop standards of recognition for practicing Tibetan physicians.

Message from His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama

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