Acting Secretary for Health Dr Libby Lee today said that overall service capacity at public Chinese Medicine (CM) clinics has risen following a 30% increase in government-subsidised consultations from October.

Answering lawmakers’ questions at the Legislative Council, Dr Lee said that on October 1 the annual quota of subsidised outpatient consultations was increased from about 600,000 to 800,000.

The consultations are distributed evenly among the 18 Chinese Medicine Clinics and Training & Research Centres (CMCTRs) across the city.

Dr Lee said that in light of the enhanced support, the centres’ overall service capacity rose in the first two weeks of October. 

About 2,900 consultations are available daily, representing an increase of over 60% year-on-year.

The average daily service capacity of each CMCTR is about 130 to 160 consultations, a significant rise compared with capacity of between 90 and 110 consultations in the same period last year.  

Coinciding with the enhanced provision, the CMCTRs have set up more consultation and treatment rooms, upgraded their facilities, and hired more staff.

Dr Lee said the Government will continue to work with the Hospital Authority to review the uptake of and demand for subsidised CM outpatient services. It will also increase service capacity through re-provisioning some CMCTRs.

She said Hong Kong’s CM services will also be greatly enhanced when the first Chinese Medicine Hospital in the city becomes operational by phases in 2025.

In addition, Dr Lee highlighted that the Government will liaise with the CM sector to formulate a Chinese Medicine Development Blueprint, and that this work will include a comprehensive review of long-term strategies and planning for the development of CM services.