The project called "10 diseases 10 drugs", aims at providing residents with safe and cheap Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) therapies for the 10 most harmful diseases within five to 10 years.

The 10 diseases are vascular disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, spinal disease, arthritis, hepatitis, avian influenza, cancer, depression and AIDS.

An official surnamed Wang, from the Beijing administration of TCM, said there are nearly five million people suffering from these diseases, about one third of the local population.

"Our intention is to gather effective prescriptions from hospitals and old famous Chinese physicians which may disappear, and do further research to develop new drugs which more patients can afford," he said.

The local government will invest a special fund of 60 million yuan into the project over the next three years.

Zhao Jing, director of the Beijing administration of traditional Chinese medicine, explained the so-called "10 drugs" is a catchword, because the project includes the diagnosis and treatment technologies of these diseases.

"We will organize a team of 10 experts and select an appropriate prescription, then make some improvements, and hopefully develop new drugs," she said.

Zhao also said the new drugs will probably be brought into in the basic medical insurance system.

"Our ultimate aim is to solve the problem of the high cost of medical service," she said.

Zhu Qingwen, associate professor with the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, said Chinese and Western medicine have different approaches.

"Western medicine is based on anatomy. Chinese medicine on the other hand takes the human body as a whole. Healthy people are embodiments of the dynamic equilibrium between yin and yang. Once the balance is broken, people will get sick.

"So we cure diseases by regulating the body's balance of yin and yang and stimulating its own functions," said Zhu. "I think this project has positive prospects."

So far, the project has received donations of 11 classical prescriptions from seven hospitals, three TCM masters and a pharmaceutical company. The collection of prescriptions will end on May 30.

Beijing Chinese Medicine Hospital contributed its famous prescription, Yangyin Yiqi mixture, which it says has an important role in the prevention and cure of H1N1 flu and hand, foot and mouth disease. It sold 50,000 kg of the mixture over the past three years.

Guang'anmen Hospital contributed its proprietary prescription, Ruanjianxiaoliu tablets, which have proved effective in the hospital for the treatment of gynecological cancer and thyroid cancer over the past 30 years.

Hua Baojin, assistant dean of Guang'anmen Hospital, said the tablets still need to be improved if widely used in local hospitals as patients have to take eight tablets and the prescription combines too many Chinese medicines.

"We are trying to make it more concentrated and reduce the quantities of Chinese medicine used," he said.