【明報專訊】TU YOUYOU, a pharmacologist of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, has been awarded a Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. That represents the world's recognition for the fruitful research efforts she has made over several decades in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which have benefited humanity. Furthermore, the award shows the world community does not reject TCM, and the Nobel Prize will give new impetus to Chinese people's efforts to bring TCM to other parts of the world. However, it is clear from the circumstances surrounding the award of Tu's Nobel Prize that there are such problems with TCM that it is unlikely to gain wide acceptance in the world community. Therefore, though it is of course a heartening fact that Tu has won the great honour, it begs the question why TCM, which has over thousands of years nursed the Chinese people, has not become an alternative system that may benefit humanity in parallel with Western medicine.