Many Chinese Medicine Centres Cancel Holidays

The association of Chinese medicine practitioners said on Friday that 38 of its clinics will be cancelling their traditional Lunar New year holidays to help reduce the load on public hospitals which are being overwhelmed by flu patients.

The Registered Chinese Medicine Practitioners Association said around 100 of its members have volunteered to work during the holidays.

They hope the move will see some patients heading to their centres to treat their flu instead of relying on public hospitals. The association's website has a list of the clinics that will operate and their working times.

Dr Vivian Wong, the association’s consultant, said the impression that Chinese medicine is “slow” is a misconception, and many Chinese herbs are scientifically proven to have antiviral properties.

She also told RTHK's Phoebe Ng that while Western medicine like paracetamol brings down a fever quickly, it is only a symptomatic treatment. But Chinese medicine looks to boost the immune system to fight the root cause of the problem, said Wong.

The current flu outbreak has overwhelmed government-run hospitals and officials had appealed to private facilities, clinics and Chinese medicine practitioners to share the load as much as possible during the holidays.

Experts say the peak of the flu season will be during and immediately after the Lunar New Year break.