Chinese medicine hospital ramps up hiring, deploys robots ahead of inpatient service launch

The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong has experienced strong demand and an enthusiastic public response since opening about nine months ago, Chief Executive Bian Zhaoxiang said Sunday, noting that the hospital will deepen collaboration with community-based clinics.

Speaking on a radio program today, Bian said the hospital has increased outpatient service quotas four times to meet demand, with development moving faster than expected. 

The hospital is set to launch 24-hour inpatient care this December, initially offering 93 beds to treat patients with mobility challenges, serious illnesses, and complex conditions requiring close monitoring 

The hospital projects total outpatient attendance will reach 140,000 in its first year, before climbing to 260,000 in its second year. 

To meet the growing demand, Bian said recruitment for Chinese medicine practitioners and nursing staff is progressing smoothly.

The hospital has hired a group of local Chinese medicine graduates with prior clinical experience in mainland hospitals, while newly recruited nurses will be sent to Guangdong for specialized training to strengthen their knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine.

Bian added that round-the-clock operations require robust support from the pharmacy, where recruitment is underway under strict quality-control standards.

He added that smart technology has been introduced to improve operational efficiency, including automated medicine-dispensing and decocting robots, as well as moxibustion robots.

The hospital plans to introduce 23 specialized disease programs, with the initial phase focusing on post-stroke rehabilitation. 

Highlighting treatment for post-stroke swallowing difficulties, Bian noted that combining specialized Chinese herbal medicine with acupuncture yields better outcomes than speech therapy alone.

He emphasized that program selection is grounded in proven clinical efficacy and whether it offers viable alternative treatments for patients.

Bian said the hospital plans to establish a well-developed two-way referral system with community Chinese medicine clinics, enabling patients to receive follow-up consultations in their neighborhoods rather than traveling to the hospital in Tseung Kwan O.

𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗔𝗽𝗽 ↓