Acupuncture therapy has existed for thousands of years, but only in recent years has it become a popular choice of study in Hong Kong as an alternative therapy to western medicine practices.
The University of Hong Kong (HKU) has been running the master's of Chinese medicine in acupuncture and moxibustion since 1999, to meet the increasing interest in the subject.
That year the Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong was established to implement regulatory measures for Chinese medicine practitioners and Chinese medicines. Continuing education has been required for all registered Chinese medicine practitioners since 2005.
Zhou Jiangfang, assistant professor at the School of Chinese Medicine at HKU, said the purpose of the programme was to improve medicine techniques not only for Chinese Medicine practitioners, but also western medicine doctors, dentists and physiotherapists.
'Students who take up this programme should have a degree in Chinese medicine, or hold a diploma in acupuncture and moxibustion with a medical professional degree, or hold a diploma in acupuncture and moxibustion and a licence to practice issued by the Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong with at least five years of acupuncture practicing experience,' Dr Zhou said.
The programme is two years, part-time. It includes lectures, a dissertation and clinical practicum, and is suitable for medical practitioners who want to improve their skills and knowledge in Chinese medical concepts.
'We have about 30 graduates for this programme every year,' Dr Zhou said.