Replies to LegCo questions

LCQ5: Professional development of Chinese medicine students

Following is a question by the Hon Tsang Yok-sing and a reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (October 27):

Question:

It is learnt that only a small portion of graduates from local bachelor's degree courses in Chinese medicine have become Chinese medical practitioners (CMPs) upon graduation. Moreover, as no means of continuous training is available to them, their professional development is also affected. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) whether it knows the employment situation of the graduates in various years at the end of each year of graduation and, among them, of the number of graduates who are currently employed by the three public Chinese medicine out-patient clinics;

(b) of the policies the authorities will adopt to enhance the professional development of these graduates; and

Reply:

Madam President,

(a) The first cohort of 31 full-time UGC-funded Chinese Medicine (CM) degree students graduated from Baptist University of Hong Kong (HKBU) in 2003. We understand from HKBU that 22 of these graduates are now in CM-related employment (at least 15 of them work in CM clinics), and 3 are pursuing further studies. Employment status of the remaining 6 is unknown.

In 2004, a total of 45 (33 from HKBU and 12 from Chinese University of Hong Kong) full-time UGC-funded CM bachelor degree students graduated from HKBU and the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). We understand from the two universities that 31 of them are in CM-related employment (at least 25 of them work in CM clinics). Seven others are pursuing further studies. Employment status of the remaining seven is unknown.

At the moment, four locally-trained CM graduates are under the employment of the CM clinics in Yan Chai Hospital and Tung Wah Hospital as CM practitioners. These clinics are among the three established in HA hospitals in December 2003, primarily to promote evidence-based CM practice through clinical research.

(b) The Administration is fully committed to facilitating the development of CM in Hong Kong. Our policy is to establish a sound regulatory regime to lay a solid foundation for the future development of CM, to enhance standard and build up public confidence in CM practice, and to elevate Hong Kong's status in CM development in the region. The regime provides a platform for CM practitioners to seek advancement in the profession.

Set up in 1999, the Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong (CMC) has also drawn up a framework of Continuing Medical Education (CME) for CM practitioners to ensure their professional knowledge and skills on CM are kept up-to-date through participation in seminars, training courses and self-studies. The CMC requires a registered CMP to attain a minimum of 60 points within a 3-year cycle before they can renew their practising certificate. Local training institutions and professional associations in CM are recognised by CMC as Programme Providers and Administrators to organise training programmes.

(c) The Department of Health will conduct another Health Manpower Survey (HMS) in 2005 which aims to collect updated information on the size, structure and employment status of health care personnel in Hong Kong. This survey will cover CM practitioners for the first time. The results will provide a comprehensive picture on the supply of health care personnel and its trend, which will serve as a basis for the formulation of policy on health manpower planning.

In formulating the manpower planning strategy, the Administration will also take into account the projected future supply of health workforce from other sources such as number of students enrolled in and completing the relevant courses in Hong Kong and expected number of professionals trained outside of Hong Kong, to complement the data collected from HMS.

The Administration also keeps a close watch on the employment situation of the CM practitioners. We will also keep track of consumer behaviour on the seeking of CM consultation through the thematic household survey regularly conducted by the Census and Statistics Department as necessary.

Thank you, Madam President.

Ends/Wednesday, October 27, 2004

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