'HK Should Use More Chinese Medicine To Treat Covid'

A local Chinese medicine expert said on Wednesday that he hopes mainland specialists visiting Hong Kong can share their experience on how Chinese medicine can be integrated with Western medicine to treat Covid.

Chan Wing-kwong, who chairs the Registered Chinese Medicine Practitioners Association, made the comment after seven mainland Chinese medicine experts arrived in Hong Kong to help with the Covid fight here.

Speaking on an RTHK programme, Chan said the mainland has been using Chinese medicine extensively to treat Covid patients.

“Mainland experience showed us that Chinese medicine can work very well in treating Covid,” he said.

“Chinese medicine practitioners in Hong Kong have been unable to reach severe cases ... as the government hasn't arranged for us to work in hospitals... So we hope after the mainland experts' visit, the government can attach greater importance to Chinese medicine, and incorporate it into the medical system as soon as possible.”

Chan said practitioners in Hong Kong have treated many patients who were isolating at home, and Chinese medicine has proven effective in relieving symptoms like fever and sore throat.

He added that it is wrong for people to think that Chinese medicine cannot handle more serious cases that require urgent treatment.