Chinese medicine practitioners are being placed under legislative controls after a bill to set up a professional regulatory body passed yesterday.
An 18-member Chinese Medicine Council, whose members will be appointed by the Chief Executive, will be formed to administer examinations and registration. Those who are not qualified cannot practise Chinese medicine, with offenders facing a maximum of five years in jail.
Registered doctors, dentists and physiotherapists, however, are still allowed to use acupuncture as a means of treatment.
There are about 7,000 Chinese medicine practitioners. Training varies from high-standard tuition to verbal advice.
The Chinese Medicine Ordinance is the first law to set a framework of control for the sector.
The law came into effect as the Government announced a 10-year pledge to turn Hong Kong into a hub of Chinese medicine. Legislators described the law as a timely boost for Chinese medicine which, they said, should be incorporated into the public health system.
