Five more Chinese medicine clinics are being planned for districts with high elderly populations, Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr York Chow says. They are Sha Tin, Sham Shui Po, Wong Tai Sin, plus North and Eastern Districts.

Subject to Legislative Council Finance Committee approval on June 22, three of the new clinics will open by mid-2008 with the rest set for early 2009.

Dr Chow told lawmakers today these clinics will cater for the needs of elderly social security recipients who choose to seek treatment from Chinese medicine practitioners.

Of the nine existing Chinese medicine clinics, Dr Chow said three came into operation in late 2003 and six in 2006 and early this year. On the basis of the first three clinics, the average monthly patient attendances for each of the clinics is about 2,500, the daily patient attendances is in the range of about 80 to 140, and consultation slots are exhausted on most working days.

He said at least 20% of the consultation quotas of Chinese medicine clinics are allocated to social security recipients with fees and charges, including the consultation fee together with two doses of herbal medicine, waived.

Noting that existing public healthcare services together with those provided by non-government organisations have been able to offer suitable healthcare for elderly social security recipients, Dr Chow said the Government does not plan to provide subsidies for the elderly to seek consultation from private Chinese medicine practitioners.