Health Secretary offers resources for development of Chinese medicine in Hong Kong

Hong Kong will spare more resources for developing the traditional Chinese medicine industry, said Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau. 

During the fourth Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Chinese Medicine Inheritance, Innovation and Development Conference today (August 25), Lo claimed that the research and application of Chinese medicine is an integral part of Hong Kong's health care system. 

"More resources and more brains will be introduced to Hong Kong for the better advance of Chinese medicine health services," he said.  

"The government is planning to build the first Chinese medicine hospital, which is expected to commence service in phases from 2025," noted Lo. 

Besides, hospitals in Hong Kong will embrace more Chinese medicine outpatient services and inpatient services with Chinese and Western medicine collaboration.  

"A fund for developing the Chinese medicine industry will be set up to support the industries in finance to improve the health services standard," Lo mentioned.  

Lo pointed out that collaboration with mainland China and exchange programs will be issued to strengthen the training of young Chinese medicine practitioners to raise their professional standards.  

"More medical resources will be provided for current measures in disease prevention," Lo added.  

Sophia Chan Siu-chee, the former Secretary for Food and Health, said in March this year that Chinese medicine was broadly engaged in preventing, treating, and rehabilitating the fifth wave of the epidemic.  

Hospital Authority also distributed the Chinese medicine kits to patients in Penny's Bay Isolation Center for treatment in February this year.