As Hong Kong anticipates the release of the Chinese medicine development blueprint in 2025, we have an opportunity to rethink how Chinese medicine can reshape our healthcare approach. With an ageing population and rising chronic illnesses, the preventive nature of Chinese medicine can contribute to better health outcomes and alleviate the burdens on our healthcare resources.
Advertisement
To maximise the impact of Chinese medicine, three critical areas deserve our focus. First, we should refine licensing examination standards to elevate the clinical competence of Chinese medicine practitioners, ensuring they are equipped with the necessary skills to meet evolving healthcare challenges.
Second, Hong Kong should establish a more defined role for Chinese medicine within the primary healthcare system, easing collaboration with the other healthcare disciplines. Third, the city should provide specialist training through Chinese medicine hospitals to develop practitioners’ advanced clinical competencies.
The 2022 Primary Healthcare Blueprint recognised the potential of Chinese medicine in primary care, envisioning a collaborative approach with other healthcare professionals to shift the focus of healthcare from not only treating disease but also preventing them. Therefore, enhancing the professional standards and reputation of Chinese medicine practitioners must be a cornerstone of the blueprint.
Heavily focused on theoretical knowledge, the current licensing exam for practitioners fails to adequately assess their clinical competence. Practitioners have noted that while graduates have a strong theoretical understanding, they often face challenges in applying knowledge to areas like prescription and acupuncture techniques.