Press Release

WHO holds technical meeting on traditional medicine in Hong Kong (with photo)

11 May 2009

Some 50 overseas government officials responsible for traditional medicine, experts of the World Health Organization (WHO), representatives from non governmental organizations (NGO) and 10 local participants today (11 May) attended a two-and-a-half day meeting to discuss the application of international classification of disease (ICD) being used in western medicine to traditional medicine.

The event, entitled WHO Working Group Meeting on Development of Traditional Medicine Modules for Inclusion in the International Classification of Diseases" (ICD-TM), was organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) with support from the Department of Health.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Director of Health, Dr PY Lam said he was grateful for the WHO to initiate the project and honored that Hong Kong had been invited to support this meaningful event.

The ICD is an international standard classification of diseases and other health problems. It has been used worldwide for general epidemiological, health management purposes and clinical use.

"Traditional medicine is a significant part of health care and has become increasingly popular in its use worldwide. In order to facilitate integration of traditional medicine into the health system, it is hoped that the meeting would develop criteria and methods for the WHO to further develop a special chapter on traditional medicine to the ICD," Dr Lam said.