The Government commenced the preparation work for commissioning the Chinese Medicine Hospital (CMH) today (June 28). The Food and Health Bureau (FHB) and the Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), which is the contractor of the service deed for the operation of the CMH, will start to work towards the goal of commencing service in phases from the second quarter of 2025.
      
     Speaking at the Commissioning Launch Ceremony of the CMH, the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, said, "The establishment of the CMH is obviously one of the important milestones in the development of Chinese medicine (CM). The CMH will provide not only quality medical services, but also a collaboration network with CM clinics cum educational and research centres, universities and the CM industry through the setting-up of a brand new platform to press ahead with the development of CM in five areas, namely medical services, education and training, research, collaboration, and creating health values."
      
     Professor Chan has high hopes and confidence in the HKBU's participation in the development and operation of the CMH. She said that the HKBU has rich experience in CM education, training, research and service operation. The HKBU also shares the same mission with the Government in developing the CMH into a flagship CM institution and a change driver, thus driving the development of CM service, education and training, innovation and research in Hong Kong.
      
     The CMH will be situated at Pak Shing Kok in Tseung Kwan O, next to the Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute and covering 4.29 hectares of land. Its design principle and construction works are coordinated by the Architectural Services Department. Permeated with touches of Chinese cultural elements, the layout and architectural design tend to highlight the coexistence of modern CM and traditional Chinese cultures. The construction works of the CMH and the Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute will officially commence at the end of June.
      
     The CMH will provide inpatient and outpatient services, covering internal medicine, external medicine, gynecology, paediatrics, orthopedics and traumatology, acupuncture and moxibustion as well as special disease services and rehabilitation. Apart from CM services, the CMH will also adopt an integrated Chinese-Western medicine services model through collaboration of CM and Western medicine practitioners with the former playing the predominant role while providing diagnosis and treatment on specific diseases. The CMH will offer a total of 400 hospital beds. It is expected that the outpatient clinics will be able to serve some 310,000 patients annually upon full commission.
      
     As a flagship CM institution, the CMH will be a base for teaching and clinical practicum for the Schools of Chinese Medicine of the three local universities and a clinical training platform for CM practitioners.
      
     Having regard to the promotion of CM research, the CMH will collaborate with local, Mainland and overseas universities and educational institutions to conduct evidence-based clinical research and CM-related research. A Clinical Trial and Research Centre capable of conducting phase 1 and phase 2 clinical trials will be set up in the CMH with a view to facilitating the development of new proprietary Chinese medicines (pCMs) as well as widening the clinical applications of existing pCMs.
      
     The HKBU, as the contractor, will incorporate a company limited by guarantee (the operator) to manage, operate and maintain the CMH. The contractor and the operator will work with the FHB in the preparation work for service commencement of the CMH, such as the detailed design of the CMH and acquiring the necessary licences for the operation of the CMH.
      
     Also present at the ceremony today were the Permanent Secretary for Food and Health (Health), Mr Thomas Chan; the Project Director of the Chinese Medicine Hospital Project Office, Dr Cheung Wai-lun; the Chairman of the Council and the Court of the HKBU, Dr Clement Chen; the President and Vice-Chancellor of the HKBU, Professor Alexander Wai; and the Director of Architectural Services, Ms Winnie Ho.

Ends/Monday, June 28, 2021
Issued at HKT 16:35

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