Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ14: Development of the Chinese medicine industry in Hong Kong
Following is a question by the Dr Hon Lam Tai-fai and a written reply by the
Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today
(February 22):
Question:
Some members of the Chinese medicine industry (CM industry) in Hong Kong have
relayed to me that the CM industry has all along been developing slowly although
in 1999, the Chinese Medicine Ordinance (Cap. 549) was enacted and the Chinese
Medicine Council of Hong Kong was established by the Government, and that the
Government has neither attached enough importance nor provided sufficient
support to the CM industry. In this connection, will the Government inform this
Council:
(a) whether it will consider setting up a dedicated committee to formulate
policies on promoting the development of the CM industry; if it will, of the
details; if not, the reasons for that;
(b) given that the Government has indicated that it is actively implementing the
plan to establish 18 public Chinese medicine clinics (CMCs) in Hong Kong in
phases, and that 16 CMCs have been established so far, when the authorities plan
to set up the remaining two CMCs, and whether they will consider further
increasing the number of CMCs; if not, of the reasons for that;
(c) given that the Government has indicated that while the current operating
hours of various CMCs are subject to district needs with a view to facilitating
patients to seek treatment as convenient as possible under the premise of
optimising the use of resources, it does not have any plan at present to extend
their operating hours, whether the authorities have conducted any study or
investigation to ascertain if the operating hours of CMCs in various districts
have already met district needs and facilitated patients to seek treatment as
convenient as possible; if they have, of the details; if not, why they do not
consider extending such operating hours to facilitate the public;
(d) given that the Government has announced that in addition to revamping
existing medical facilities, the redevelopment of Kwong Wah Hospital will also
strengthen the Chinese and Western medicines shared care services of the
hospital (including Chinese medicine in-patient service), whether it knows the
details of the initiatives of the hospital in this respect (including the
respective numbers of beds and Chinese medicine practitioners (CMPs) of the
Chinese medicine in-patient service), and if the Hospital Authority has any plan
to extend these initiatives to other hospitals;
(e) whether it will reconsider studying the establishment of a public Chinese
medicine hospital; if it will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(f) whether it has assessed if the authorities' initiatives in the past decade
were able to incorporate Chinese medicine into the public healthcare system
proactively; if it has assessed, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(g) of the measures in place to facilitate sustainable career development of
CMPs with a view to promoting the development of the CM industry;
(h) of the measures or policies currently in place to attract Chinese medicine
experts from the Mainland to Hong Kong to nurture local talents and lift the
professional standard of the CM industry in Hong Kong;
(i) whether it will consider offering assistance (including creating special tax
concessions in this respect) to small and medium-sized proprietary Chinese
medicine manufacturers in terms of resources and financing to allay their burden
in various aspects such as testing, research and development and plant
improvement, etc., and to upgrade the quality of products; if it will, of the
details; if not, the reasons for that;
(j) given that some members of the industry have indicated that under the
insurance coverage provided by insurance companies at present, the amounts of
compensation granted for claims made in respect of fees for treatment by CMPs
are generally lower than those granted for claims made in respect of fees for
treatment by medical practitioners, whether the authorities know the reasons for
that; if they do, of the details; if not, whether they will seek an in-depth
understanding of the matter; and
(k) given that Chinese medicine is outside the scope of medical benefits for
civil service eligible persons at present, whether the authorities will consider
including Chinese medicine in such scope so as to take the lead in promoting
equality between CMPs and medical practitioners; if they will not, of the
reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
The Government has been adopting a multi-pronged approach based on the concept
of "evidence-based medicine" to facilitate the development of the Chinese
medicine industry in Hong Kong.
The Chinese Medicine Ordinance (CMO) was enacted in 1999 to establish a
regulatory regime for Chinese medicine so as to further safeguard public health,
recognise the professional status of Chinese Medicine Practitioners (CMPs) and
ensure the safety, quality and efficacy of Chinese medicines.
The Government has also taken proactive initiatives to help Hong Kong's Chinese
medicine move towards internationalisation and cultivate an environment
conducive to the development of the Chinese medicine industry. These initiatives
include a research programme on the Hong Kong Chinese Materia Medica Standards
launched by the Department of Health (DH) in 2002, to set standards, in terms of
safety and quality, for Chinese herbal medicines which are commonly used in Hong
Kong. The development of safety and quality reference standards for Chinese
medicines can help bring about improvements in the raw materials for proprietary
Chinese medicines and boost public confidence in Chinese medicines. It can
further solidify the foundation for research on Chinese medicines, facilitate
alignment with international requirements and expedite the modernisation and
internationalisation of Chinese medicines as well as facilitating the Chinese
medicines trade.
In addition, the Government also actively provides professional support to the
World Health Organisation (WHO) on the development of traditional medicine,
including international classification of traditional medicine and formulation
of a strategy for traditional medicine for the next decade. DH has taken the
initiative to organise several meetings on international classification of
traditional medicine in collaboration with WHO. Through WHO, the Government has
strengthened its ties with the international network, and established an adverse
event notification mechanism on Chinese medicine and enhanced its information
exchanges and cooperation on regulation of herbal medicine with other regions.
My reply to the various parts of the question is as follows:
(a) The Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong (CMCHK), established under CMO in
September 1999, is responsible for implementing various regulatory measures
relating to Chinese medicine so as to maintain the standard of practice and the
conduct of CMPs and Chinese medicines traders, promoting and ensuring the proper
use of traditional Chinese medicine, and ensuring the safety, quality and
efficacy of proprietary Chinese medicines. This statutory regulatory body
comprises practising CMPs, members of the trade of Chinese medicines, academics,
lay persons and government officials.
Besides, the Government set up a Committee on Research and Development of
Chinese Medicine (the Committee) in December 2011. It is chaired by the
Commissioner for Innovation and Technology with the objective to achieve greater
effectiveness in co-ordinating the collaboration of various stakeholders in the
Chinese medicine sector in promoting research and development (R&D) and testing
of Chinese medicine to meet the future needs of Hong Kong. The Committee will
act as a platform to gauge views from various stakeholders on R&D of Chinese
medicine in Hong Kong, formulate the broad direction in promoting R&D of Chinese
medicine in Hong Kong, identify key areas of work, monitor progress and
recommend areas of improvement where necessary. The Committee will facilitate
sharing of R&D outcome and other collaboration among stakeholders to create
synergy in R&D of Chinese medicine and to promote collaboration with
organisations outside Hong Kong.
The Government has also set up a Steering Committee on Strategic Review on
Healthcare Manpower Planning and Professional Development. The Steering
Committee is chaired by the Secretary for Food and Health and held its first
meeting in January 2012. The Steering Committee is tasked to conduct a strategic
review of healthcare manpower planning and professional development in Hong
Kong. The review will cover healthcare professionals in the 13 health
professions currently subject to statutory regulation including CMPs. It will
put forward recommendations on how to cope with anticipated demand for
healthcare manpower, strengthen professional training and facilitate
professional development having regard to the findings of the strategic review,
with a view to ensuring the healthy and sustainable development of Hong Kong's
healthcare system.
(b) & (c) To promote the development of "evidence-based" Chinese medicine, the
Government has been actively taking forward the plan to establish 18 public
Chinese medicine clinics (CMCs) in the territory by phases. So far, we have set
up 16 CMCs which are respectively located in Central and Western District, Wan
Chai District, Eastern District, Southern District, Kwun Tong District, Wong Tai
Sin District, Sham Shui Po District, Kowloon City District, Tsuen Wan District,
Tai Po District, Sai Kung District (Tseung Kwan O), Yuen Long District, Tuen Mun
District, Kwai Tsing District, North District and Sha Tin District. We will
continue to identify suitable sites in the Yau Tsim Mong District and Islands
District for establishing the remaining two CMCs, so as to enhance Chinese
medicine service in our public healthcare system. We are still taking forward
the plan to establish public CMCs in the 18 districts in the territory and have
no plan to further increase the number of public CMCs at this stage.
The service hours of CMCs depend on the demand of individual districts, with a
view to facilitating patients to seek treatment as far as possible while
effectively using resources. At present, CMCs are running smoothly and there is
no plan to extend their service hours.
(d) to (f) The long-term goal of the Government in promoting the development of
Chinese medicine is to develop, through an evidence-based approach, a model of
collaboration between Chinese and Western medical practitioners that can meet
the actual circumstances and needs of Hong Kong.
In view of the increasing demand for Chinese medicine services from members of
the public, the Government is actively incorporating Chinese medicine services
into the public healthcare system on an incremental basis. Since 2003, the
Government has established CMCs in 16 districts, and the remaining two CMCs will
be set up as soon as possible to promote the development of the Chinese medicine
services. The Hospital Authority (HA) is now trying out different models of
Chinese and Western medicines shared care services in more than 20 hospitals to
combine the advantages of Chinese and Western medicine systems in the treatment
of specific illnesses through enhancing communication between Chinese and
Western medical practitioners so as to provide well-suited medical treatment to
patients.
The Kwong Wah Hospital Redevelopment Project includes the development of Chinese
medicine services with a major focus on the out-patient service, where conjoint
consultations by a multi-disciplinary team (of CMPs and Western medical
practitioners) will be provided for patients. Apart from a larger scale of
Chinese and Western medicines shared care services, Chinese medicine in-patient
service will also be provided. The initial plan is to provide a Chinese and
Western medicines shared ward with 56 beds. As there is still some time before
the Project is completed, a review will be carried out on such issues as the
number and establishment of CMPs, and whether proposed services will be further
expanded when the Project is close to completion.
At present, the Government does not have any plan to establish Chinese medicine
hospitals. Organisations interested in setting up private Chinese medicine
hospitals are welcome to put forward their detailed proposals to the Government
for consideration.
(g) Chinese medicine practice has a long history in Hong Kong. Since the
enactment of CMO in July 1999, Chinese medicine is officially put under
statutory regulation and the statutory professional status of registered CMPs is
established. CMO sets out the regulatory measures relating to CMPs and covers
such matters as examination, registration and discipline. Moreover, CMO also
specifies that upon renewal of practising certificates, registered CMPs must
fulfill the requirements of continuing education in Chinese medicine as
prescribed by the Chinese Medicine Practitioners Board under CMCHK in order to
update their professional knowledge and keep themselves abreast of the latest
developments.
At present, three local universities have provided full-time degree courses on
Chinese medicine. In the long run, the local education institutions could
produce an adequate pool of high calibre professionals to support Hong Kong's
development as an international centre for Chinese medicine.
Besides, HA has been actively increasing the job and training opportunities for
CMPs practising in public CMCs. Fresh graduates of local Chinese medicine degree
programmes will be engaged as junior CMPs in the first year and as CMP trainees
in the second and third years. Each public CMC is required to employ at least
four part-time (or two full-time) senior CMPs and 12 junior CMPs/CMP trainees,
thereby enhancing the job and training opportunities for CMPs significantly.
To assist Chinese medicine graduates in attaching to the Chinese medicine
hospitals or CMCs on the Mainland, HA provided a Junior Scholarship in Chinese
Medicine in July 2009 for CMPs with clinical experience of two years or more to
further their study in renowned hospitals on the Mainland. The subjects for
further study are selected according to the development trend and needs of
Chinese medicine in Hong Kong. After completing the training, they need to
return to Hong Kong to work in the public CMCs operated under the tripartite
model among HA, a non-governmental organisation and a local university and
assist in the promotion of Chinese medicine services. In addition, HA has
provided a Senior Scholarship in Chinese Medicine since April 2010. Local CMPs
with aspiration to promote the development of teaching and research in Chinese
medicine and in possession of substantial qualification and experience will be
selected to further their study in the Mainland's hospitals. They need to
provide training for CMPs after returning to Hong Kong.
As Chinese medicine services are becoming more prevalent in Hong Kong, the
professional status of CMPs and their services have obtained broad-based
recognition from the public in recent years, which contributes significantly to
the career development of CMPs.
(h) CMO provides for a system of limited registration of CMPs, as approved by
CMCHK, to facilitate the engagement of Chinese medicine experts in performing
clinical teaching and research in Chinese medicine in the specified
institutions. Chinese medicine experts on the Mainland may come to Hong Kong to
conduct clinical research and educational work in specified local universities
and scientific research institutions through a limited registration system,
which can help further enhance the professional competence of local CMPs. At
present, six local universities and scientific research institutions can make
limited registration applications for the Chinese medicine experts they hire.
These six institutions are the University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University
of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Baptist University, the Hong Kong Polytechnic
University, the City University of Hong Kong and HA. Currently, there are 70
registered CMPs with limited registration in Hong Kong.
(i) As for R&D, the Government provides funding support for local proprietary
Chinese medicine manufacturers to carry out applied research projects relating
to R&D and testing of Chinese medicine through various support programmes under
the Innovation & Technology Fund. Among these programmes, the
University-Industry Collaboration Programme aims to encourage enterprises to
leverage on the expertise of the universities and carry out R&D projects jointly
with them whereas the Small Entrepreneur Research Assistance Programme provides
funding support for small and medium enterprises to carry out R&D projects on
Chinese medicine so as to assist them in starting new businesses and conducting
market validation. As for the General Support Programme under the Innovation &
Technology Fund, it provides funding support for projects which can enhance and
facilitate the development of Chinese medicine industry such as conferences,
exhibitions, seminars, workshops, promotional activities, research and surveys.
As to testing and laboratory technology support, representatives of the Chinese
Medicines Board under CMCHK and DH often organise briefings and sharing sessions
with the trade where necessary, and attend meetings of the Chinese medicines
trade association from time to time so as to offer appropriate technical support
to the trade. Relevant information is also available on the website of CMCHK for
reference by members of the trade.
(j) According to our understanding, insurance companies currently make reference
to the median medical fees in the market in determining the amount of
reimbursement for medical fees. According to the findings of market research
conducted by insurance companies, the median medical fees for Chinese medicine
services are lower than those for Western medicine services. For this reason,
the amount of reimbursement for Chinese medicine services is in general lower
than that for Western medicine services. Insurance companies will conduct market
research on medical fees from time to time to ensure that the insurance coverage
they provide can best meet the needs of the insurees. In case of special needs,
insurees can also ask their insurance companies to enhance their protection by
raising the amount of reimbursement for Chinese medicine services, but the
amount of premium will also be adjusted accordingly.
(k) According to the current provisions laid down in the Civil Service
Regulations (CSRs), civil service eligible persons are entitled to free medical
treatment and medical services, X-ray examinations and medicines, but only when
these benefits are provided by DH or the medical facilities of HA. Civil service
eligible persons are required to pay for the charges applicable to hospital
maintenance, dentures and dental appliances as provided for in CSRs.
At present, there are no CMCs under DH. As for CMCs under HA, they are operated
under a tripartite model under which HA collaborates with a non-governmental
organisation and a local university for provision of services to patients at
each CMC. Unlike the general out-patient clinics under HA, these CMCs are
operated on a self-financing basis. Hence the services provided at these CMCs
fall outside the scope of medical benefits that civil service eligible persons
are entitled to.
Ends/Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Issued at HKT 17:36
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