The School of Chinese Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) is collaborating with the Community Med Care and the Hong Kong T.C.M. Orthopaedic & Traumatic Association, to offer clinical practicum and training for Chinese Medicine students at the Community Med Care Clinic. The Clinic also provides clinical services and free traditional Chinese medicine services for disabled children.
The opening ceremony of the Clinic was held today (22 June). Officiating guests included Professor Sophia CHAN, Secretary for Food and Health, HKSAR Government; Mr. LI Wen Shen, the Deputy Director-General of the Co-ordination Office of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR; Dr. Christine Wang WONG, Assistant Director of Health (Traditional Chinese Medicine), Department of Health, HKSAR Government; Mr. Tommy LI, Deputy, National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China; Mr. WONG Tin Chee, Director of the Community Med Care Clinic; Professor YEUNG Cheuk Ming, Chairman of the Hong Kong T.C.M. Orthopaedic & Traumatic Association; and Professor LEUNG Ting Hung, Director of the School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine at CUHK.
Traditional Chinese medicine has become more common in Hong Kong. According to information released by the Census and Statistics Department in 2017, about 20% of the respondents from the public have sought medical advice from Chinese medicine practitioners.(1) In response to the community’s demand for Chinese medicine services, the School of Chinese Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine at CUHK, the Community Med Care and the Hong Kong T.C.M. Orthopaedic & Traumatic Association signed a cooperation agreement in February 2019 to develop the Community Med Care Clinic as a clinical teaching and training station for traditional Chinese medicine.
Professor Sophia CHAN, Secretary for Food and Health, HKSAR Government, stated, “With the Government announcing in the Policy Address that Chinese medicine would be incorporated in the local healthcare system, the Government and the Chinese medicine sector are actively planning the development of the industry and the Chinese Medicine Hospital. Today, the School of Chinese Medicine of CUHK, the Community Med Care and the Hong Kong T.C.M. Orthopaedic & Traumatic Association are collaborating to provide quality Chinese medicine services and contribute to the community.”
Professor LEUNG Ting Hung, Director of the School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine at CUHK, stated, “As a training station, the Community Med Care Clinic will provide high-quality Chinese medicine treatment based on syndrome differentiation. At the same time, it will provide opportunities for advanced studies and professional training for students of our School and for young Chinese medicine practitioners, thereby passing on the knowledge of Chinese medicine.”
Mr. WONG Tin Chee, Director of the Community Med Care Clinic, said, “My father Mr. WONG To Yick opened a medical centre in Sham Shui Po in the 1950s to provide clinical services to the local community. To inherit his idea, I opened the Community Med Care Clinic at No.75 Un Chau Street in Sham Shui Po to offer Chinese medicine services to those who are in need.”
Apart from out-patient services, the Clinic provides free traditional Chinese medicine services to disabled children to relieve their discomforts and improve their quality of life. The historical building also incorporates social service elements. For example, there are areas for lectures or classes on promoting the concept of Chinese medicine and a number of services for young people.
The first stage of the out-patient service of the Clinic is provided by three Chinese medicine practitioners with orthopaedics and traumatology, acupuncture and internal medicine services. Through clinical internships and observation in out-patient clinics, students of the School of Chinese Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine at CUHK can gain clinical experience and strengthen their professional skills.
The establishment of the Clinic is also supported by the Hong Kong T.C.M. Orthopaedic & Traumatic Association. Professor YEUNG Cheuk Ming, Chairman of the Association, pointed out, “This tripartite collaboration is an innovative mode of cooperation among the Chinese medicine practitioners in Hong Kong. It is an integration of medicine, education and charity providing excellent Chinese medicine orthopaedics services to local people. It serves as a suitable centre for orthopaedics training for the students of the School of Chinese Medicine at CUHK, and also a welcome opportunity for the Community Med Care charity fund to contribute to society."
More photos can be found on the website of CUHK Communications and Public Relations Office: https://www.cpr.cuhk.edu.hk/en/press_detail.php?1=1&1=1&id=3076&t=cuhk-establishes-new-training-station-for-chinese-medicine-students
(1) Thematic Household Survey Report, Census and Statistics Department
