PLANS for the proper regulation of Chinese medicine moved a step forward yesterday when practitioners were urged to join a list which would form the basis for registration.
The government-appointed Preparatory Committee on Chinese Medicine yesterday launched a four-month enrolment exercise, which aims to find out the number, training, qualifications and practice profile of local herbalists.
Full-time and part-time herbalists, bone-setters, and acupuncturists have been asked to enrol.
Cheung Tai-chiu, chairman of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner Sub-committee, said a reliable picture of the industry was needed.
Tsang Shing-keung, who has been practising Chinese medicine for more than 20 years, welcomed the move, but said some practitioners might think it was a pre-qualification exercise.
