Traditional Chinese medical practitioners in Hong Kong will work more closely with their Western medicine counterparts in pain management and post-illness recovery, according to the city’s health officials.
Chinese medicine will also play a bigger role in primary healthcare, with authorities to prepare a list of illnesses for patients who are advised to consult medical practitioners in the sector to find better treatment.
Professor Vincent Chung Chi-ho, commissioner for Chinese medicine development, said in a television interview on Sunday that Chinese medicine fared better in areas such as stroke care, chronic pain management and cancer palliative care.
“We need to guide the general public on when they should seek help from Chinese medicine and when it is better to consult Western medicine,” Chung said.
“We will work out a list of illnesses.”
Chung added: “There are also many cases in which the best results could be achieved by cross-disciplinary cooperation. Like stroke, after one receives emergency treatment at the hospital, physiotherapists, nurses or Chinese medical practitioners can also play a part to help the patient recover.”
He also expected Chinese medicine to play a bigger role in primary healthcare.
