Chapter 1431 Research and Development Expenses of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Alice had her own matters to attend to in the Federal Capital, so she only found some time today to rush here.

She said enthusiastically, "Teacher, how are the preparations coming along? Do you need any help?"

Ye Bufan smiled slightly, "Everything is ready. Unlike Western medicine, our Traditional Chinese Medicine requires very little equipment and tools. As long as there are people, it's enough."

"Oh! Teacher, how do you plan to charge? Have you set the fee standard?"

"Uh… I forgot."

Only then did Ye Bufan remember that he was opening a medical hall, not a clinic, and the fee standard had indeed not been set yet.

Cao Xinghua said, "We Old Men were so engrossed in our excitement that we forgot about the fees, but it's still not too late to set them now."

After saying that, he looked at Ye Bufan, "Senior Brother, what do you think about setting this standard? How much should our consultation fee be?"

Ye Bufan thought for a moment, then held up a finger, "The consultation fee will be 100."

Lou Baiming said, "Senior Brother, isn't 100 a bit high? If converted to usd, it would be around ten-odd dollars."

Ye Bufan shook his head, "You misunderstood. The 100 I mentioned is usd. Our consultation fee will be 100 usd per visit, and treatment will also be 100 usd. As for the price of medicine, that will follow market rates."

Cao Xinghua looked astonished, "Ah? Senior Brother, 100 usd is almost 800 chinese yuan. Isn't that a bit much just for the consultation fee?

And we've just officially entered M Country. Raising the price too high all at once, won't it have a negative impact?"

"The price of 100 is already very cheap. Precisely because we've just entered, we cannot set the price too low."

Ye Bufan said, "Precisely because we've just opened the market, we cannot give people the impression that Traditional Chinese Medicine is cheap.

Our Traditional Chinese Medicine is no worse than any other Medical skill, and there's no reason for it to be cheaper than others!"

In fact, he didn't set this price arbitrarily; it was the result of comprehensive consideration.

If based on their worth, not to mention 100 usd, even 1000 usd wouldn't be high, after all, in China, they are all top-tier Traditional Chinese Medicine experts, and it's usually difficult to get an appointment.

But they had just arrived in M Country, representing not just Traditional Chinese Medicine experts, but the overall impression of Traditional Chinese Medicine, which is why the price was set at 100 usd.

"This…"

Cao Xinghua seemed to feel that something was off, but he couldn't quite articulate it for a moment.

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Wang Xuande hesitated for a moment and said, "Medical Immortal, I have something to say, but I don't know if I should."

"Old Wang, feel free to speak your mind."

Ye Bufan had a very good impression of this Old Man recently, otherwise he wouldn't have kept him in M Country.

"It's like this." Wang Xuande carefully adjusted his words and said, "When we were in China, the fees of our Godly Needle King were relatively high.

At that time, Medical Immortal taught me that doctors should have a compassionate heart and not be solely driven by profit. However, our current price seems even higher than mine was back then…"

He paused there, looking very cautious, afraid that he might say something wrong and displease the other party.

"Old Wang, I understand what you mean."

Ye Bufan smiled slightly, showing no displeasure, and then said, "China is China, and M Country is M Country. Different countries naturally have different fee standards."

Wang Xuande looked puzzled, "I, this Old Man, am dull-witted. Please enlighten me, Medical Immortal."

"The reasoning is simple. Just look at Western medicine. How much do drugs developed in M Country sell for in their own country? And how much do they sell for when they reach our China?

The price of their medicines in our country is almost several times that of their own country, and in severe cases, it can reach tens or even hundreds of times.

In fact, Western medicines are all synthesized chemically, with very low costs. One pill costs about a few mao, at most a few yuan, but it can easily sell for hundreds or thousands of yuan, and can even make you bankrupt from taking medicine. The most typical example is Gleevec, a drug for leukemia.

If you ask why it's so expensive? There's only one reason: high research and development costs.

Leaving aside whether the price of Western medicine is reasonable or not, does Traditional Chinese Medicine not have research and development costs? Of course it does. Our Traditional Chinese Medicine didn't just fall from the sky.

From the time Shennong tasted hundreds of herbs, through the continuous improvement and refinement by great Traditional Chinese Medicine masters like Hua Tuo, Bian Que, Zhang Zhongjing, and Li Shizhen, we have today's Traditional Chinese Medicine system.

This is our research and development, which took 5000 years and involved countless talented individuals. In terms of value assessment, it is higher than any other medical system.

If it's for Chinese descendants, we say nothing. This is the heritage left to us by our Old Ancestors, and there's no need to consider research and development costs at all.

But for foreigners who have always charged us research and development fees, it's different. This money should still be collected."

After he finished speaking, the several Old Men present suddenly had their minds opened and nodded repeatedly.

Wang Xuande bowed deeply, "Listening to Medical Immortal's words is better than

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reading ten years of books. I, this Old Man, have learned a lot."

After the price was set, Sophie wrote a price list and posted it at the entrance, then she was in charge of collecting fees.

Not long after opening, a Chinese person rushed over. He was a young man in his thirties, wearing gold-rimmed Eyeglasses, and he hurried into the medical hall.

After entering, everyone noticed that the man's facial features were not in their normal positions; to put it simply, his mouth was crooked and his eyes were askew.

Sophie asked, "Sir, are you here to see a doctor?"

"Nonsense, why else would I come here if not to see a doctor?"

The Eyeglasses Man's speech was a bit unclear due to his stroke, but what he said could barely be understood.

"Then please pay the consultation fee, 100 usd."

"What? What did you say?" The man was stunned at first, then looked at the sign at the door, and then at Sophie, "Isn't this a Traditional Chinese Medicine clinic?"

Sophie nodded, "That's right, we are authentic Traditional Chinese Medicine."

The Eyeglasses Man immediately shouted angrily, "Traditional Chinese Medicine actually charges so much money? Why don't you just rob people? Even if I go to a large hospital and get a Western medicine appointment, it's about this price. Why are you so expensive? Don't you want to stay open?"

Ye Bufan frowned, stepped forward, and said, "According to you, Traditional Chinese Medicine should be cheaper than Western medicine, right?"

"Of course!" The Eyeglasses Man shouted righteously, "You can fool others, but absolutely not me. Do you think I haven't stayed in China?

I grew up and lived in China for over twenty years, and only stayed in M Country after graduating from Shui Mu University."

Ye Bufan asked, "Then I ask you, are you Chinese or an M Country person now?"

"Of course I'm an M Country person. Do you think I studied at Shui Mu University for nothing? I stayed here as a special Genius, and I'm already a formal citizen here.

Note, not a green card holder, but a formal citizen."

Speaking of this, the Eyeglasses Man revealed a proud expression, but because of his crooked mouth and askew eyes, it looked a bit strange to others.

Ye Bufan said, "Since you are a formal citizen of M Country, that's correct. Our Traditional Chinese Medicine clinic provides free medical treatment for Chinese people, but charges 100 for M Country people. If you want to see a doctor, pay the fee; if not, please leave."

After the Eyeglasses Man revealed that he was a formal citizen of M Country, he had originally expected to see an envious look from the other party, but he didn't expect this result, and immediately became annoyed.

"Are you kidding me? I'm an M Country citizen, and you, a Chinese person, are going to charge me extra?"