Despite of the progress in the treatment of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP), there are still factors that hinder the improvement of the efficacy of treatment: there is a lack of an accurate and easy-to-use system for early severity prediction; the multidisciplinary collaboration mechanism needs to be further optimized; there is no clinical efficacy evaluation system for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM); the therapeutic targets of TCM are unclear; the effector substances are unknown; and the research and development of new medicines is still difficult. In order to further reduce the mortality of SAP and realize the goal of improving the efficacy, we should strengthen the integration of Chinese and Western medicine, multidisciplinary collaboration, and improve the treatment levels; as well as carry out basic and clinical research oriented to clinical value. We will also promote the innovative development of combined Chinese and Western medicine in the treatment of SAP by elucidating the mechanism, validating the efficacy and commercializing the achievements. In view of SAP, a major and difficult disease, we should insist on the principle of integrity and innovation, the synergy of Chinese and Western medicines and the complementarity of advantages, and promote the innovation and development of combined Chinese and Western medicines in the treatment of SAP, so as to further reduce the morbidity and mortality and to alleviate the burden of the disease.