Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ3: Chinese medicine out-patient services
Following is a question by the Hon Frederick Fung and a reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (October 27):
Question:
It has been reported that the former Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food said at the end of September this year that the Government was aware that elderly people have more faith in Chinese medical practitioners, and the Government was studying the provision of subsidies to elderly recipients of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance for seeking Chinese medical treatment. On the other hand, as there are only three public Chinese medicine out-patient clinics in Hong Kong and the authorities concerned have shelved the plan to set up 18 Chinese medicine out-patient clinics, there is a serious shortage of Chinese medicine out-patient services. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) as the elderly people concerned are required to obtain confirmation from western medical practitioners that western medical treatment has not been effective before they can be granted subsidies for Chinese medical treatment, whether the authorities have assessed if such a confirmation requirement will be seen as disregarding their right to choose and discrimination against Chinese medical practitioners; and
(b) as the authorities appreciate that elderly people prefer seeking Chinese medical treatment and also intends to subsidise them, whether they will reconsider setting up the above 18 clinics; if so, whether they will consider giving priority to setting up such clinics in areas with a higher concentration of elderly people, so as to meet their greater needs?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) In Hong Kong, the public can always have a choice of consulting western medical doctors or Chinese medicine (CM) practitioners. Individuals can make their own choice, having regard to their unique situations.
The Administration adopts the following direction in the development of CM in Hong Kong:
(i) drawing up and regulating standard of CM practice and Chinese medicines by the Chinese Medicine Council;
(ii) the mainstay of CM service remaining in the private sector; and
(iii) development of evidence-based CM practice through clinical research conducted in CM clinics set up at hospitals under the Hospital Authority (HA).
There are currently 3 CM out-patient clinics established under the HA, namely Yan Chai Hospital Chinese Medicine Clinic cum Research Centre, TWGHs Tung Wah Hospital-The University of Hong Kong Clinical Centre for Teaching and Research in Chinese Medicine, and Nethersole Chinese Medicine Clinical Research and Services Centre. The purpose of setting up these CM clinics is to promote the development of "evidence-based" CM practice through clinical research. Recipients of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) are entitled to free out-patient services rendered by these clinics.
Meanwhile, many charitable organisations and voluntary agencies, such as Yan Chai Hospital, TWGHs and Pok Oi Hospital, also offer the needy with quality CM services at low price, some even free of charge. Other organizations like Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions and Hong Kong Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood also provide CM services to the public. CM clinics run by these organizations are located across the territory, some of them are set up in districts with a high concentration of elderly citizens, e.g. Wong Tai Sin, Sham Shui Po, Kwun Tong, etc. Details of some of these out-patient services are shown in Annex.
The proposal of subsidising elderly CSSA recipients to seek medical consultation from private CM practitioners is only one of the many initial ideas concerning the strengthening of services for the elderly. We understand that public views are diverse on this idea, and some people have cast doubt on its feasibility. I am aware that patient referrals between CM practitioners and medical doctors are so far uncommon, and making of such referrals may involve considerable practical difficulties. In fact, CSSA recipients can enjoy free public medical service, and a system is in place to enable other people with financial difficulties to seek a waiver of charges for public medical service. The Administration currently has no plan to subsidise CSSA recipients on private medical consultation.
We will carefully consider all reasonable and practical options, having regard to their potential impact on public finance and overall resource distribution in the community, with a view to providing the most appropriate medical services to the needy elderly in a pragmatic manner.
(b) The 3 CM clinics established at HA hospitals, which I mentioned earlier, were established in December 2003. HA is now conducting a review on their effectiveness. On the basis of the review findings, the Administration will consider the timetable of setting up additional CM out-patient clinics in the territory. In considering their location, we will take into account a host of factors including experience and interest of the voluntary/charitable organisations, readiness of the hospitals for carrying out CM research etc. As the purpose of establishing these CM clinics is to develop standards of CM practice and models of interface between western and Chinese medicine through clinical research, demographic structure of various districts will be one of our considerations in determining their location.
Ends/Wednesday, October 27, 2004
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Legislative Council Q3
Annex
|
Clinic |
District |
Consultation Fee (General Clinic) |
Medication Fee |
|
Ching Chung Free Chinese Medicine Clinic Number 1 |
Sham Shui Po |
Free of charge |
Free of charge |
|
Sik Sik Yuen Herbal Clinic |
Wong Tai Sin |
Free of charge |
Free of charge |
|
The Neighbourhood Advice Action Council C C Chien Memorial Chinese Medicine Clinic |
Wong Tai Sin |
$55 (Free for elderly receiving CSSA) |
$30 (Free for elderly receiving CSSA |
|
Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions Workers Medical Clinics |
Causeway Bay/ Shau Kei Wan/ Mongkok/Kwun Tong/ Tsuen Wan/Tuen Mun / Tai Po/Sha Tin |
Free of charge |
$36 - $54 |
|
Yan Chai Hospital BOC Chinese Medicine Clinic |
Sai Ying Pun |
free for elderly |
$30 - $60 |
|
Pok Oi Hospital Chinese Medicine Polyclinics (4 clinics) |
Tai Koo Shing/Tsing Yi/ Tin Shui Wai/Aberdeen |
elderly / CSSA recipients: $20 |
elderly / CSSA recipients: $40 |
|
Pok Oi Hospital Chinese Herbalist Clinics (3 clinics) |
Yuen Long/ Chai Wan/ Cheung Chau |
elderly / CSSA recipients: $20 |
elderly / CSSA recipients: $40 |