With lower fertility rates and longer life expectancy, Hong Kong is facing an ageing population and increasing demand for medical and social services. A long waiting time for a variety of services or specialties in public hospitals implies an imbalance of supply and demand, and this situation reflects the importance of primary care. Chinese medicine places a high emphasis on preventing illness before it starts, preventing pathological alterations that may occur during illness, and shielding healing patients from relapse. A variety of treatments in Chinese medicine are found to be effective in preventing and treating chronic diseases. Thus, Chinese medicine services should be included in primary care and play a proactive role in the community to address healthcare challenges and enhance public health. This chapter will first discuss the essential role and advantages of Chinese medicine in the prevention of diseases in the context of primary care for the community. The past, present and future developments and movements of Chinese medicine in the regulations and supervision, training and services that optimize the public healthcare and public healthcare system will be reviewed, and the behaviour and attitude of citizens towards Chinese medicine will be discussed. Then the challenges of Chinese medicine developments in Hong Kong, and possible support and measures as long-term solutions will be explored.

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Chinese Medicine for the Community—Present and the Future

  • Vincy Wing Sze Lee,
  • Ida Ngai Tan Chow

摘要

With lower fertility rates and longer life expectancy, Hong Kong is facing an ageing population and increasing demand for medical and social services. A long waiting time for a variety of services or specialties in public hospitals implies an imbalance of supply and demand, and this situation reflects the importance of primary care. Chinese medicine places a high emphasis on preventing illness before it starts, preventing pathological alterations that may occur during illness, and shielding healing patients from relapse. A variety of treatments in Chinese medicine are found to be effective in preventing and treating chronic diseases. Thus, Chinese medicine services should be included in primary care and play a proactive role in the community to address healthcare challenges and enhance public health. This chapter will first discuss the essential role and advantages of Chinese medicine in the prevention of diseases in the context of primary care for the community. The past, present and future developments and movements of Chinese medicine in the regulations and supervision, training and services that optimize the public healthcare and public healthcare system will be reviewed, and the behaviour and attitude of citizens towards Chinese medicine will be discussed. Then the challenges of Chinese medicine developments in Hong Kong, and possible support and measures as long-term solutions will be explored.