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The Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, will attend the 66th World Health Assembly (WHA) of the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, on May 20 (Geneva time).
Before attending the WHA, Dr Ko will have meetings with senior officials and representatives of medical and health-care regulatory institutions in London, the United Kingdom (UK), and will visit a Chinese medicine clinic in Germany.
During his two-day visit in London on May 16 and 17 (London time), Dr Ko will take the opportunity to learn more about the regulation of health-care facilities, manpower planning and professional development in the UK. He will call on the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care, which oversees statutory bodies that regulate health and social care professionals in the UK; the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council, which regulates complementary therapies such as aromatherapy, healing, hypnotherapy and massage therapy; and the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, an independent organisation under the UK's public health-care system providing guidance on quality standards for illness treatment and prevention.
Dr Ko will also visit the Care Quality Commission, an independent regulator of health and adult social care services, and will meet with the Medical Director of the National Health Service (NHS) cum Chairman of the NHS Review of the Regulation of Cosmetic Interventions Committee. The Committee was set up in the UK as a result of increasing concern over standards of cosmetic surgery and products. The Committee will review existing guidelines for ensuring the physical and psychological health of people having cosmetic interventions.
Dr Ko will depart for Munich, Germany, in the morning of May 18 (London time) to visit a Chinese medicine clinic in Kötzting. The Chinese medicine clinic is the first of its kind in Germany, rendering therapeutical services in the form of hospital treatments.
After visiting Munich, Dr Ko will head for Geneva to attend the 66th WHA on May 20 (Geneva time) as a member of the China delegation. Dr Ko will return to Hong Kong on the following day.
Ends/Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Issued at HKT 15:00
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