Increase quota for Government subsidised Chinese Medicine services in Chinese Medicine Clinics cum Training and Research Centres
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The 18 Chinese Medicine Clinics cum Training and Research Centres (CMCTRs) are established and operated under tripartite collaboration model involving the Hospital Authority (HA), non-governmental organisations and local universities. Following the direction of 2022 Policy Address, CMCTRs have completed the preparation to increase the quota of Government subsidised Chinese Medicine (CM) services in 2023. From October 1, the annual quota will be increased to 800 000, which is a 30 per cent increase in service capacity as compared with that of last year.
Since March 2020, CMCTRs have been providing Government subsidised CM services on treatment-related CM general consultation (with maximum five doses of prescribed medication), acupuncture service and bone-setting/tui-na treatments (available in some CMCTRs) to eligible Hong Kong residents. Each type of service is charged at $120 per visit and the fees are waived for recipients of the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance and the Old Age Living Allowance aged 75 or above. Besides the Government subsidised services, 18 CMCTRs also provide non-subsidised CM services as alternative options for patients.
The HA spokesman said, "With the increase in quota of Government subsidised CM services, we expect to enhance the role of CM in primary healthcare and to benefit more patients, while also in response to the service demand call from patient. Patients with episodic diseases can call the 18 CMCTRs or use the mobile application "18 CM Clinics" to make an appointment for Government subsidised CM services for episodic diseases on the same day or the next working day. If patients have ever registered for services in any of the 18 CMCTRs before, they can use "18 CM Clinics" mobile application to check and book episodic appointment."
The HA has all along been supporting the Government on CM development. Through 18 CMCTRs, the HA will continue to provide CM services and promote Integrated Chinese-Western Medicine service, while also to nourish CM expertise through professional training and research development.
"18 CM Clinics" supports mobile devices with operating system versions iOS 12.0 or above and Android 6.0 or above and can be downloaded free of charge from the Apple App Store and Google Play. Members of the public can visit the HA CMK website (cmk.ha.org.hk/18cmclinics_eng) for more information.
For addresses and telephone numbers of 18 CMCTRs, please visit the HA CMK website: (cmk.ha.org.hk/index).
Ends/Saturday, September 30, 2023
Issued at HKT 14:40
Issued at HKT 14:40
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