Chinese meds hospital top job goes to veteran

A Baptist University associate vice-president has been appointed the chief executive of the SAR's first Chinese medicine hospital to be opened next year.

The hospital yesterday signed a strategic collaboration agreement with the Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Guangzhou with the aim of learning about hospital management.

The chairman of the board of directors of HKBU Chinese Medicine Hospital Co, Huen Wong Kwai-huen, yesterday announced that professor Bian Zhaoxiang, currently associate vice-president of Chinese medicine development, has been appointed as the hospital's chief executive.

Bian, who has dedicated himself to clinical research of Chinese medicines, clinical services and teaching for years, yesterday said he was honored.

The associate director of the clinical division of HKBU's Chinese medicine department, Cheung Chun-hoi, has been appointed as deputy hospital chief executive; while Lau Chun-wing, service director of quality and safety of the Hospital Authority's Hong Kong East cluster, will serve as the deputy hospital chief executive of western medicine.

The hospital in Pak Shing Kok, Tseung Kwan O, is expected to commence service at the end of next year.

Bian said the hospital will mainly provide outpatient services in the first year, and launch hospitalization services in the following year, but the medical fee has yet to be set.

"Although it's a Chinese medicine hospital, there are many western medical examination facilities in the hospital, including laboratory tests, X-rays, CT scan, magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound," he said.

"There will be wards in the hospital - the first Chinese medicine hospitalization service to be provided in Hong Kong," he said.

Bian also said the hospital would begin hiring Chinese medicine practitioners and nurses and is confident it can hire sufficient medics, despite the SAR facing a shortage of doctors.

"I believe the hospital can attract talent to start services. We will cooperate with various institutions and enhance cooperation to make the recruitment smoother," he said.

Under the cooperation deal with the Guangdong provincial hospital, Hong Kong will send 100 to 200 medics for training and study, Bian said, adding that the hospital is also considering inviting mainland experts here to teach practitioners.

Secretary of Health Lo Chung-mau said the hospital would aim to enhance communications with medical institutions within the Greater Bay Area and take Chinese medicine to the world in future.