Chinese Medicine Hospital expands government-subsidised services

The Chinese Medicine Hospital announced a fourth increase to its quota of residents eligible for government-subsidised outpatient services at the facility.The services are estimated to double the initial amount set for this year, and is expected to benefit over 140,000 people.

Having provided outpatient services since operations began in December last year, the Chinese Medicine Hospital already increased its quota for those eligible for government-subsidised services on three occasions during the first month of its opening.

On Saturday, the hospital announced further additions to the quota to meet rising patient demand, with the figure expected to rise from around 60,000 to more than 140,000 over the course of the first year.

Wong Kwai-huen, the chairman of the hospital, says hospital staff will closely monitor the operational situation on site and make assessments at the end of this year in accordance with societal reaction as well as resource and manpower arrangements.

He adds the latest update to the quota may require increasing the amount of doctors in the facility, but the hospital will prioritise raising its service efficiency for the short-term.

Having held its inaugural ceremony today, the Hong Kong Global Summit on Chinese Medicine and Integrative Medicine welcomed medical experts from across the world to share the latest research and training materials in the field in a number of themed speeches and forums.

More than a thousand people were expected to have participated in the event. Speaking about medical innovations in his speech, Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau says the Hong Kong government is determined to showcase Chinese medicine to the international community as part of the city's first Five Year Plan.

He adds the Chinese Medicine Hospital earlier signed 16 cooperation agreements with several local universities and key mainland hospitals, during which the Chinese Medicine Hospital also established partnerships with a number of hospitals in Beijing and Shanghai.