Boards and Committees

Legislative Council Panel on Health Services
2016 Policy Address
Policy Initiatives of the Food and Health Bureau

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New Initiatives

(d) Chinese Medicine

10. The Government has all along been committed to promoting the development of Chinese medicine in Hong Kong. The Chief Executive established the Chinese Medicine Development Committee in February 2013 to focus on the study of four major areas, namely the development of Chinese medicine services, personnel training and professional development, research and development as well as development of the Chinese medicines industry (including Chinese medicines testing). The Government in early 2014 and early 2015 accepted a number of recommendations put forth by the Committee, including the development of Chinese medicine hospital, development of the integrated Chinese-Western medicine, the expansion of the Hong Kong Chinese Materia Medica Standards (HKCMMS) Project as well as the setting up of a testing centre for Chinese medicines. We have been implementing the recommendations in phases. The latest developments include the issuance of invitations as soon as possible to non-profit-making organisations which are interested in developing and operating a Chinese medicine hospital at the reserved site in Tseung Kwan O to submit expression of interest to the Government, as well as the launching of a pilot study on the reference standard setting for Chinese medicines decoction pieces under the HKCMMS Project.

On-going initiatives

(d) Chinese Medicine

43. We would continue with the Integrated Chinese-Western Medicine Pilot Project launched in September 2014 in seven hospitals of the HA in order to gather experience in the operation of integrated Chinese-Western medicine and Chinese medicine in-patient services, which will serve as the basis for formulating the mode of operation of the Chinese medicine hospital. Implemented in two phases, the pilot project provides treatment with integrated Chinese-Western medicine for three disease areas, namely stroke rehabilitation treatment, low back pain care and palliative care for cancer.

44. We would continue to conduct review of the development of the Chinese medicine sector through the Chinese Medicine Development Committee to formulate strategies to raise the professional standard and status of Chinese medicine practitioners, support research and development of Chinese medicine, promote treatment with integrated Chinese-Western medicine, expand the role of Chinese medicine in the Hong Kong healthcare system, and examine the feasible mode of operation of a Chinese medicine hospital.

45. We would continue to subsidise and monitor the 18 public Chinese medicine clinics to enhance Chinese medicine service in our public healthcare system.

46. As announced in the 2015 Policy Address, the Government has accepted the recommendation of the Chinese Medicine Development Committee to set up a testing centre for Chinese medicines to be managed by the DH. The testing centre will specialise in the testing of, and scientific research on, Chinese medicines, with a view to setting reference standards for the safety, quality and testing methods of Chinese medicines. The DH is planning and developing the testing centre. Before the establishment of a permanent testing centre for Chinese medicines, the DH will set up a temporary testing centre for Chinese medicines which is expected to start operating in phases from 2017.

47. The HKCMMS project was first launched in 2002 to develop reference standards for commonly used Chinese materia medica in phases to ensure the safe use and the quality of Chinese materia medica. We would continue with the research work after completing the compilation of HKCMMS for 236 Chinese materia medica commonly used in Hong Kong. Our target is to set reference standards for around 28 Chinese materia medica each year.

(Full document)

12 Apr 2019