LHASA -- A college for Tibetan traditional medicine in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region has been approved to grant doctorates, the college said.

The Tibetan Traditional Medical College (TTMC), based in the regional capital of Lhasa, was approved by the academic degree committee of the State Council, China's cabinet, to confer the highest degree in Tibetan traditional medical science.

"The approval to confer doctorates is a milestone for Tibetan medical science in both disciplinary building and development of degree education, which will help speed up development of the science," said TTMC president Nyima Cering.

Founded in 1989, the TTMC is China's only higher-learning institution dedicated especially to the traditional medicine of an ethnic minority.

With a history of 3,800 years, Tibetan traditional medicine is an important component of traditional Chinese medicine and a treasure of Tibetan culture, said Nyima Cering.

"Tibetan traditional medicine, which originated in monasteries, has been accepted by more and more people both at home and abroad," he said.