Respiratory disease patients can now receive integrated Western and Chinese medicine treatments at four Hong Kong public hospitals under a pilot scheme which aims to alleviate symptoms and reduce side effects.
The Hospital Authority said the pilot scheme targeting respiratory diseases had started at Haven of Hope Hospital in Tseung Kwan O in April last year and was now available at Kowloon, Ruttonjee and Grantham hospitals.
“This scheme targets patients aged 18 or above who have been diagnosed with asthma, bronchiectasis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and experience persistent respiratory symptoms,” said Rowena Wong How-wan, the authority’s chief manager of Chinese medicine.
“After an assessment by doctors and Chinese medicine practitioners in our team, we will invite eligible patients to join the voluntary scheme. The fee for each treatment session is HK$120 [US$15.80].”
The Integrated Chinese-Western Medicine Programme now involves 26 hospitals providing stroke care, musculoskeletal pain management, cancer palliative care, cancer care, knee osteoarthritis management and respiratory disease management.
Dr Wong Wei-ying, deputy chief executive of Haven of Hope Hospital, said that as of the end of last month, 120 patients, aged 38 to 96, had taken part in the pilot scheme for respiratory diseases. Their average age was 75, with a male-to-female ratio of 3-1.
