First woman 'master of Chinese medicine' criticises Hong Kong's attitude
Liu Minru has been honoured for her work on the mainland, but says Hong Kong doesn't take the ancient practice seriously enough
The first woman to be awarded the title master of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has criticised the attitude towards the practice in Hong Kong, saying it does not receive the same appreciation as Western medicine.
"Hong Kong does not value traditional Chinese medicine," said Liu Minru, a TCM practitioner at Tung Wah Hospital, Sheung Wan and a professor at a Chengdu university.
"There is no thorough understanding of it."
Liu said that when she first started working in Hong Kong, 11 years ago, people saw TCM as merely health supplements.
"People came to me and said: 'I am not sick, I just want to enhance my health.' I told them to buy herbal tea, that a doctor is not necessary for them."
Liu attributed the main problem to policy, saying there is insufficient regulation of TCM. "I am afraid the Chinese Medicine Council is just empty talk," she said.