Chinese medicine clinics to go ahead in public hospitals

Despite delays, the authority insists the roll-out will continue

The Hospital Authority yesterday pledged to press ahead with its plan to establish more Chinese medicine clinics at public hospitals.

The authority's director of professional services and human resources Ko Wing-man said the Hospital Authority and the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau were in discussion on how the clinics should be operated.

'We are summing up the experience of setting up three Chinese medicine outpatient clinics by the end of 2003. We compiled a report in the middle of this year and submitted it to the government only last month,' said Dr Ko.

His remarks came after the Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood accused the government of delaying the establishment of more public Chinese medicine clinics, saying it was neglecting the needs of the elderly.

After Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa's pledge in his 2001 policy address to bring Chinese medicine under the public health sector, the government announced a plan to set up clinics in all 18 districts by next year. But it has only established three so far, and says the scheme needs further study.

Dr Ko said the establishment of the clinics had been delayed by three-and-a-half years due to the outbreak of Sars and other reasons.