Boards and Committees

2017 Policy Agenda
(Paragraphs on development of Chinese medicine)

Chapter 6 - Building a Caring, Inclusive Society, Improving People’s Livelihood

Chinese Medicine

• The Food and Health Bureau will set up a dedicated unit to oversee the development of Chinese medicine in Hong Kong, including deciding the positioning of Chinese medicine in the public healthcare system, which will serve as the basis for formulating the mode of operation of the first Chinese medicine hospital, enhancing the current tripartite collaboration model adopted by the Chinese Medicine Centres for Training and Research in the 18 districts and fostering the professional development of Chinese medicine practitioners. (FHB) (New Initiative)
• Study and promote the development of Chinese medicine in Hong Kong, and open up markets on the Mainland and nearby countries for Chinese medicine by fully leveraging Hong Kong’s advantages on various fronts. (FHB) (New Initiative)
• To cater for the development of Chinese medicine, we will include information of Chinese medicine in the sharable scope of the Electronic Health Record Sharing System, continue to standardize clinical and medical terminologies of Chinese medicine, and develop the Chinese Medicine Information System On-ramp so as to facilitate the access and sharing of patients’ information by the Chinese medicine practitioners who choose to use the system in the future. (FHB) (New Initiative)
• Review the remuneration and promotion arrangements for staff (including Chinese medicine practitioners) in the Chinese Medicine Centres for Training and Research in the 18 districts with a view to enhancing their career prospects. (FHB) (New Initiative)
• Continue to review the development of the Chinese medicine sector through the Chinese Medicine Development Committee to formulate a strategy 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 public healthcare system, and examine the feasible mode of operation of the Chinese medicine hospital. (FHB)
• For the development of the Chinese medicine hospital, we will draw reference from the analysis report prepared by the international consultant based on the consultation with local stakeholders and overseas experts and further plan for the governance structure, business model, operation model, financial model and contract management model of the Chinese medicine hospital. We expect that the positioning and the framework of development in major areas of the Chinese medicine hospital will be announced in the first half of 2018. (FHB) (New Initiative)
• To provide the healthcare professionals required by the Chinese medicine hospital for the provision of integrated Chinese-Western medicine with Chinese medicine playing a predominant role, we will organise various training courses, including diploma courses on Chinese medicine specialty for registered Chinese medicine practitioners, basic Western pharmacy training for Chinese medicine pharmacists, and relevant Chinese medicine training courses for medical practitioners, nurses and healthcare professionals. (FHB) (New Initiative)
• Implement the Integrated Chinese-Western Medicine Pilot Project 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. Launched in September 2014, the pilot project provides treatment with integrated Chinese-Western medicine for three diseases, namely stroke, low back pain and cancer, in seven hospitals of the HA. (FHB)
• The temporary Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute set up at the Hong Kong Science Park has commenced operation in phases since March 2017. On this basis, we will speed up the establishment of the permanent Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute. Through development of a set of internationally-recognised reference standards for Chinese medicines and related products and also transfer of technology, it will help empower the industry to strengthen quality control of their products and develop Hong Kong into an international hub for scientific research on Chinese medicines testing and quality control. (FHB) (New Initiative)
• Continue with the research work after completing the compilation of Hong Kong Chinese Materia Medica Standards for 275 Chinese materia medica commonly used in Hong Kong. Our target is to set reference standards for around 28 Chinese materia medica each year. A pilot study has also been launched on the standard setting for Chinese medicines decoction pieces under the Hong Kong Chinese Materia Medica Standards Project. (FHB)

（Full Document of 2017 Policy Agenda）