Sophie Hui

Nearly one million packs of traditional Chinese medicine are to be distributed for anti-epidemic purposes, Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee said.

In her blog yesterday, Chan said that public confidence in TCM's anti-Covid capabilities have increased.

She added that the SAR government appreciates the central government's move to provide the city with Chinese medicines such as Lianhua Qingwen, Jinhua Qinggan and Huoxiang Zhengqi.

Authorities are arranging for more of the medicines to be sent to Hong Kong, Chan said.

She added that Chinese medicine has been included in the anti-epidemic packs sent to those isolating at home or in quarantine facilities.

"Chinese medicine played a significant part in the fifth wave, during which its advantages and effectiveness were fully utilized."

Further, the government will launch a support scheme through the Chinese medicine development fund. The scheme will subsidize practitioners to provide free telemedicine services and deliver Chinese medicine to at-home Covid patients, Chan said, adding that 20,000 patients are expected to benefit from the scheme in its first stage.

Additionally, Chan said that TCM treatment has been provided to over 160 patients staying in community-isolation facilities and the North Lantau Hospital Hong Kong Infection Control Centre.

The Hospital Authority also set up a free Chinese medicine consultation hotline, Chan said, noting that the hotline has received nearly 3,000 calls since the middle of last month.

Chinese medicine can reduce the aftereffects of Covid and the re-positive rate, Chan said. To this end, the authority also launched a Chinese medicine outpatient program in April for recovered Covid patients. Thus far, the program has helped around 3,000 patients.

Sophia Chan, far left, said the benefits of Chinese medicine have been fully utilized in the fifth wave.

Nearly a million TCM packs to be distributed