Dr Joshua Ko, assistant professor, full-time programme unit, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University

Chinese medicine has been practised for millennia, yet has only recently become an accredited subject at local universities. The introduction of degree courses in Chinese medicine was part of a drive by the post-handover government "to assess [practitioners'] professional qualifications; to monitor their standards of practice; and to regulate the use, manufacture and sale of Chinese medicine," according to Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa in his 1997 Policy Address.

Since then, three local institutions - Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and the University of Hong Kong (HKU) - have introduced undergraduate studies for Joint University Programmes Admissions System (JUPAS) applicants. The first batch of graduates has completed their studies at HKBU and all of them have satisfied strict academic and clinical criteria by passing the licensing examination established by the Chinese Medicine Council of the Department of Health. They are now part of the new wave of traditional Chinese physicians.

Mainstream medics have long questioned the validity of traditional Chinese remedies but Dr Joshua Ko, assistant professor of the full-time programme unit at HKBU's School of Chinese Medicine, stresses that the perception that this discipline centres around anecdotal herbal remedies is off target. "Chinese medicine is built around thousands of years of theory and practice," says the pharmacology expert. "The ingredients and techniques have been honed over generations and modern Chinese doctors place as much emphasis on clinical trials and chemical analysis as do their western counterparts."

Such is the scepticism with which the medical community views Chinese medicine that Dr Ko reports that, despite the formulation of a side-effect-free SARS remedy, hospitals were reluctant to give this cure a chance. Chinese medicine practitioners were only used when all other avenues had been exhausted, by which time it was often too late for the patient.

A tough regime
HKBU's undergraduate study programme is structurally similar to that for conventional medicine, with prospective physicians completing a double degree over five years. Successful students earn a Bachelor of Chinese Medicine and a BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Science. Those opting for a Chinese pharmacy career can take the four-year Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons) in Chinese Medicine.

"Contrary to popular opinion, there is plenty more to Chinese pharmacy than the simple packaging of ingredients at a dispensary," says Dr Ko. "The Bachelor of Pharmacy emphasises the chemical study of the various compounds used to quantify their precise medical benefits and to eliminate toxic metals such as mercury from the medicines."

He adds that, just like the training for conventional medical professionals, the Chinese Medicine and Biomedical Science double-degree programme is particularly tough, because students constantly have to switch between two different modes of thought. "We are working hard to integrate the subjects, but it can often feel like learning two unrelated topics at once," he says.

"On top of that, students have to take various complementary study courses set by the university, such as medical ethics or English for academic purposes. The academic day usually runs from 8am to 6pm and the summer vacations of years three and four are taken up by internships or laboratory-based honours projects."

Although the rigorous programme hardly offers the laid-back life of a liberal arts student, there is no shortage of interest. The annual intake for the double degree is about 30 to 35, for which the school receives more than 1,000 applications.

Dr Ko attributes this popularity to Chinese medicine's increasing local profile. "Apart from the government's licensing efforts, the Chief Executive also set a target of 18 Chinese medicine centres in hospitals around the territory," he says. "People are also beginning to recognise the benefits of Chinese medicine as a holistic treatment. Rather than focusing on a single ailment, we treat the whole body, which reduces adverse reactions to treatment."

Course information

From student to practitioner General university entrance guidelines apply for admission to Chinese medicine courses but, as well as ability in science, Dr Ko, assistant professor of the full-time programme unit at the Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) School of Chinese Medicine, also warns prospective students that a good command of Chinese is essential. "Many Chinese medicine texts were written in ancient times and are therefore not that different from Chinese literary classics," he comments, adding that the original formulae were often written in verse to facilitate efficient learning and memorising. "That is why we have to administer a Chinese literacy test for all applicants and run refresher courses throughout the degrees." Internationalisation, part of the drive to regulate Chinese medicine, means that much course material will eventually be translated into English but, for the time being, a strong affinity for language is a distinct advantage. Part-time students can take the Bachelor of Chinese Medicine or one of a range of diploma courses. Since most existing Chinese medicine practitioners have already registered with the government, the degree courses are not mandatory. Nonetheless, a number of Chinese physicians take the programmes either to consolidate their knowledge or to obtain the qualification, while some conventional medical practitioners, nurses and other interested parties apply for part-time study. Upon completion of their Chinese medicine studies, the vast majority of students will enter practice and Dr Ko says that feedback from the school's inaugural graduates is positive. "Their conviction and work ethic is very strong," he reports. "If they last the five-year course, they will have what it takes to be a good physician." "More than 90 percent hope to practice in Hong Kong, with some opting for higher degrees. Unfortunately, because of the huge competition in this field, some graduates might have to go abroad or back to mainland China to work or study." HKBU currently offers MPhil and PhD research degrees, with taught Master's programmes in the pipeline; postgraduates can also consider related study in other medical disciplines.

Taken from Career Times 2004/03/26