The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, and his delegation continued their visit in Beijing today (March 16), calling on the National Health Commission (NHC) and the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (NATCM) respectively.
 
     During his meeting with the Vice-minister of the NHC, Mr Cao Xuetao, Professor Lo introduced the Primary Healthcare Blueprint released last year that sets out a range of development directions and strategies to strengthen the primary healthcare system in Hong Kong. He also said "The Chief Executive's 2022 Policy Address" had stated that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government will continue enhancing public hospital services, increase the supply of healthcare manpower, drive further the development of Chinese medicine (CM), and push forward healthcare co-operation between Hong Kong and other cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
 
     He said, "I would like to express my gratitude to Mr Cao Xuetao for taking time out of his busy schedule to meet the delegation and providing staunch support for the work of the Health Bureau, the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority all along. In particular, the leaders of the NHC showed much care towards the situation in Hong Kong during the fifth wave of the COVID-19 epidemic last year. They steered not only the co-ordination of medical supplies secured for Hong Kong within a short period of time and the donation of anti-epidemic proprietary Chinese medicines etc, but also arranging a number of experts to come to Hong Kong to help the HKSAR Government in examining the epidemic development in an in-depth manner and offer valuable advice on combating the epidemic."
 
     Separately, Professor Lo met with the Party Secretary and Vice Commissioner of the NATCM, Professor Yu Yanhong, and the Vice-Commissioner of the NATCM, Professor Huang Luqi. He introduced to them that the construction of the two flagship institutes, namely the Chinese Medicine Hospital and the Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute, are being actively pushed ahead by the HKSAR Government for expected commission in phases starting from 2025.
 
     He said, "CM has always been an integral part of the healthcare system in Hong Kong. Its advantages were amply demonstrated during the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic. The HKSAR Government will go the extra mile to further promote the development of CM in Hong Kong, consolidate the position of CM in Hong Kong's healthcare system, and formulate a blueprint for the overall development of CM."
 
     Accompanying Professor Lo at the meetings today were delegation members including the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam; the Deputy Secretary for Health, Mr Eddie Lee; and the Chairman of the Hospital Authority, Mr Henry Fan.

Ends/Thursday, March 16, 2023
Issued at HKT 17:09

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