In addition to primary healthcare, the development of medical services in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) is a key direction for Hong Kong’s future medical and health policies. ‘About 30 years ago, I was among the first Chinese medicine students to pursue further studies in Japan with a national scholarship, at a time when Japan was doing better at the modernisation and scientific management of Chinese medicine, despite limited international research publications,’ said Professor Feng. ‘In the past two decades, however, Hong Kong has progressed more rapidly in the scientific management and modernisation of Chinese medicine, as well as integrative medicine. With the concerted efforts of the government, academia and industry, focusing on the GBA as a global hotspot and platform for the development of science, medicine, trade and finance, Hong Kong is in a promising position to help advance the globalisation of Chinese medicine.’ The School has had close exchanges and collaboration with academia and industry in the GBA, in particular, through the establishment of the Department of Chinese Medicine of the HKUShenzhen Hospital to provide clinical services, and participation in teaching and research, making the best use of the huge caseload of the Hospital to scale up its clinical research. Recently, Professor Feng visited various GBA cities for academic exchanges while exploring more collaboration opportunities. In addition to clinical services, training and research, Professor Feng envisages the balanced development of a complete business chain as an essential element for the advancement of Chinese medicine. ‘It is only through regulation, standardisation and quality control to effectively manage upstream and downstream production that the quality of Chinese pharmaceutical products can be assured,’ he remarked. ‘Best practice standards are applied throughout the entire production process of Chinese drugs, such as Good Agricultural Practice (GAP), which provides guidelines on the sourcing and production of Chinese medicine; Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), which governs the production process and facilities; Good Laboratory Practice of Drugs (GLP), which monitors laboratory operations to ensure the reliability, safety and efficacy FEATURE + Backed by the Motherland to Promote Globalisation of Chinese Medicine ←The School's teaching places emphasis on Chinese medicine clinical training, while incorporating the latest biomedical science teaching, to nurture Chinese medicine professionals with well-rounded knowledge and skills in Chinese and Western medicine. 學院課程以中醫為本， 結合最新現代生物醫學 理論，以培養具中、 西醫專業知識及技能的 中醫藥人才。 into account, including the living environment, lifestyle and ethnicity of the patient, to make a dialectical diagnosis and prescribe treatment based on individual cases,’ explained Professor Feng. ‘In Western medicine, in contrast, clinical diagnosis is made through an examination of the patient’s signs and symptoms. Despite the differences in methodology, Chinese medicine practitioners nowadays have to understand diagnoses in Western medicine as well, as a basis for dialectical diagnosis using Chinese medicine.’ ‘In Chinese medicine, the concept of “disease prevention” emphasises daily practices, such as adjusting dietary habits and exercises across seasons, and the use of Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture and Qi Gong. All these practices are easy to apply and to promote among the local population.’ While district-based District Health Centres (DHCs) are being set up in stages, Professor Feng believes that the 18 existing Chinese Medicine Clinic cum Training and Research Centres should coordinate with the 18 DHCs to promote knowledge of health maintenance, preventive care and therapeutic treatment of Chinese medicine, as this would help reduce society’s medical costs in the long run. 40
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy Mzg4NDg0