SFH visits clinic for Chinese medicine in Germany (with photos)
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     The Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, arrived in Munich, Germany, on May 18 (Munich time) to visit a Chinese medicine clinic in Kötzting in the second leg of his duty visit to Europe.

     Briefed by the Chief Executive Officer of the clinic, Mr Anton Staudinger, Dr Ko learnt that the Chinese medicine clinic is the first of its kind in Germany, rendering therapeutical services in the form of hospital treatments. The clinic, with 80 hospital beds, was set up in 1991 through co-operation between the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine and a German entrepreneur.

     The clinic's specialty is the combination of psychosomatic and traditional Chinese medicine. The majority of patients are admitted to the clinic for management of chronic diseases.

     Dr Ko was also briefed on the development of Chinese medicine, including herbal medicine and proprietary medicine, in Germany and the government policies on promoting Chinese medicine.

     Dr Ko told Mr Staudinger that the Chinese Medicine Development Committee, chaired by himself, was set up in January this year to give recommendations to the Government concerning the direction and long-term strategy of the future development of Chinese medicine in Hong Kong. Key areas of deliberations of the Committee include raising the professional standard and status of Chinese medicine practitioners, strengthening the promotion of research and development of Chinese medicine, encouraging the integration of Chinese and Western medicine in clinical treatment, expanding the role of Chinese medicine in the public health-care system, and provision of Chinese medicine in-patient services in Hong Kong.

     Before touring the clinic, Dr Ko was invited by the mayor of Kötzting to sign the Golden Guest Book, wishing them to continue the development of an evidence based integrative medicine.

     Dr Ko will leave for Geneva, Switzerland, tonight (May 18, Munich time) to attend the 66th World Health Assembly of the World Health Organization on May 20 (Geneva time).

Ends/Sunday, May 19, 2013
Issued at HKT 05:59

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