Continuing a fine tradition
A Chinese medicine clinic has been launched in Wan Chai to provide training opportunities for medical students and promote an evidence-based approach to the traditional discipline.
The Chinese outpatient clinic, launched by the University of Hong Kong, the Health Authority and the Hong Kong Tuberculosis, Chest and Heart Diseases Association, will provide Chinese medicine services to the public.
The clinic, which is based at Tang Shiu Kin Hospital in Queen's Road East, will focus on heart disease, pulmonary problems, geriatric health and health promotion.
Its services include ophthalmology, acupuncture and herbal treatments and it also has a Chinese medicine dispensary, providing raw herbs, granules and extracts.
The centre, which aims to be self-financing through fees set by the health authority, brings the number of Chinese medicine clinics providing training opportunities for medical students at universities in Hong Kong to four.
Clinic manager Dr May Wong Mui-fong said: 'We are providing high-quality Chinese medicine services to the public and we aim to serve 150 patients a day.'
The clinic would provide training placements for 10 undergraduate medical students from HKU's school of Chinese medicine, plus training positions for up to five recent graduates at any one time.
If it can secure extra resources, it also will admit students from other Hong Kong universities and institutions offering programmes in Chinese medicine.
The evidence-based approach would ensure that professional services provided by the centre's practitioners to patients were effective and safe, Dr Wong added.
