Indian Acupuncture Practitioners Sought China Partnerships
A five-member delegation visited Chinese institutions to observe integrated healthcare models and training practices.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Alternative Medicine
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A group of five Indian acupuncture professionals recently completed a six-day visit to various Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) universities and hospitals in China. The delegation aimed to establish academic collaborations and observe models of integrated medicine to support the push for acupuncture recognition in India.
Why it matters
Practitioners are currently campaigning for official professional recognition by the Indian federal government. By adopting successful Chinese integrated healthcare models, they hope to promote and standardize acupuncture practices within India.
A delegation of 5 professionals visited Chinese TCM facilities to study integrated healthcare systems. The effort follows decades of historical exchange, including the 1991 start of Anish Gupta's acupuncture practice.
The players
Debasis Bakshi
He is the founder of the Indian Research Institute for Integrated Medicine established in 1981.
Mrigendranath Gantait
He established the B.K. Basu Memorial Research and Training Institute of Acupuncture.
Anish Gupta
He is an honorary professor at the China Beijing International Acupuncture Training Center who began his practice in 1991.
Dr D.N. Kotnis Health and Education Centre
This institution signed a cooperation memorandum with Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 2019.
The details
During the tour, the delegation engaged with Chinese medical experts to discuss potential training and research cooperation. These efforts build upon established ties, such as the 2019 cooperation memorandum between the Dr D.N. Kotnis Health and Education Centre and Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Timeline
Bejoy Kumar Basu conducted medical missions in China between 1938 and 1943.
Debasis Bakshi founded the Indian Research Institute for Integrated Medicine in 1981.
The Indian acupuncture delegation began their six-day visit to China on September 16, 2026.
Anish Gupta is scheduled to lecture at the China Beijing International Acupuncture Training Center in November 2026.
Medical camps are planned for Punjab in December 2026.
The Big Picture
The recent delegation's visit to China follows the pattern of collaborative international training established by the 2019 cooperation memorandum. This development signals a continued effort to align Indian acupuncture training with established Chinese medical institutions.
These academic collaborations aim to eventually improve the quality and standard of acupuncture treatments available to patients in India. Individuals seeking alternative therapies may see improved professional certification standards as these practitioners work toward federal recognition.
The takeaway
Advocates for acupuncture continue to bridge international research gaps to build credibility for their field. Practitioners in India are utilizing these academic partnerships as a foundation to lobby for government regulation.
Further reading
For more context on international trends in integrative healing, visit the Alternative Medicine section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Chinadaily.
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