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Statistics

2011 Health Manpower Survey on Chinese Medicine Practitioners

Key Findings

1.The Chinese medicine practitioners covered in the 2011 HMS were Chinese medicine practitioners registered* with the Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong or entered on the list of listed Chinese medicine practitioners maintained by the Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong under the Chinese Medicine Ordinance (Chapter 549) as at the survey reference date - 31.8.2011.

2. The number of Chinese medicine practitioners covered was 9 077.

3. Of the 9077 Chinese medicine practitioners covered, 6243(68.8%) were registered Chinese medicine practitioners, 71(0.8%) were Chinese medicine practitioners with limited registration and 2 763(30.4%) were listed Chinese medicine practitioners.

4. Of the 9077 Chinese medicine practitioners covered, 2794 had responded to the survey, giving an overall response rate of 30.8%. Analysed by the type of Chinese medicine practitioners, the response rate of registered Chinese medicine practitioners was 35.3%, while that of Chinese medicine practitioners with limited registration and listed Chinese medicine practitioners were 36.6% and 20.4% respectively.

Registered Chinese Medicine Practitioners

5. Of the 2204 responding registered Chinese medicine practitioners, 1 939 (88.0%) were economically active†‡ (active) whereas 265 (12.0%) reported to be economically inactive†§ (inactive) in the local Chinese medicine profession .

6. Of the 1939 active registered Chinese medicine practitioners, 1 884 (97.2%) were practising in the local Chinese medicine profession, 17(0.9%) were seeking jobs, 12(0.6%) were having temporary sickness and 26(1.3%) were waiting to take up new jobs, starting business at subsequent date, believing no work available or expecting to return to their original jobs in the local Chinese medicine profession during the 30 days before the survey.

* Includes all registered Chinese medicine practitioners and Chinese medicine practitioners with limited registration

† In the survey, the criteria used in defining economically active / inactive followed those recommended by the International Labour Organization, which are also being used by the Census and Statistics Department in Hong Kong.

‡ Economically active" registered Chinese medicine practitioners comprised all "employed" and "unemployed" registered Chinese medicine practitioners. "Employed" registered Chinese medicine practitioners referred to those registered Chinese medicine practitioners practising in the Chinese medicine profession in Hong Kong during the survey period, while "unemployed" registered Chinese medicine practitioners referred to those registered Chinese medicine practitioners who (a) were not practising in the Chinese medicine profession during the survey period; (b) had been available for work during the seven days before the survey; and (c) had sought work in the Chinese medicine profession during the 30 days before the survey.

§ Economically inactive" registered Chinese medicine practitioners comprised the registered Chinese medicine practitioners who were not practising in the Chinese medicine profession in Hong Kong during the survey period, but excluding those who had been on leave during the survey period and who were "economically active" but "unemployed".

7. The survey findings presented below were based on the 1884 responding registered Chinese medicine practitioners practising in the local Chinese medicine profession as at 31.8.2011. As some questionnaires contained missing information, percentages presented below may not add up to 100%.

(i)

One registered Chinese medicine practitioner did not indicate the sex. Of the remaining 1883 active registered Chinese medicine practitioners enumerated, 1274(67.7%) were male and 609(32.3%) were female, giving an overall sex ratio of 209 (males per 100 females). Nine registered Chinese medicine practitioners did not indicate their age and the median age of the remaining 1875 active registered Chinese medicine practitioners enumerated was 58.0 years.

(ii)

Distribution by sector of the main job* showed that 1661(88.2%) were working in the private sector, followed by 109(5.8%) in the subvented sector, 53(2.8%) in the Government and academic sectors, and 50(2.7%) in the Hospital Authority.

(iii)

70.1% spent most of their working time on general practice, followed by 14.2% on bone-setting and 11.3% on acupuncture.

(iv)

The median number of hours of work (excluding meal breaks) per week of the 1884 active registered Chinese medicine practitioners enumerated was 44.0 hours. 243(12.9%) registered Chinese medicine practitioners were required to undertake on-call duty (excluding normal duty), with a median of 10.0 hours of on-call duty (excluding normal duty) per week.

8.Among the 265 inactive registered Chinese medicine practitioners :

(i)

35 registered Chinese medicine practitioners reported practising in the Mainland and eight reported practising overseas.

(ii)

222 registered Chinese medicine practitioners reported not practising in the Chinese medicine profession in Hong Kong and not seeking job in the local Chinese medicine profession during the 30 days before the survey. The reasons reported for not seeking job included: 112(50.5%) were working in other professions, 49(22.1%) were retired, 33(14.9%) wanted to take rest/having no motive to work/having no financial need and 18(8.1%) were engaged in household duties, etc.

* Main jobs referred to the jobs in which the registered Chinese medicine practitioners had spent most of their working time.

Of the 6 243 registered Chinese medicine pracitioners covered, 2 204 (35.3%) had responded to the survey, while the remaining 4 039 (64.7%) had not responded. Among the respondents, 1 939 (88.0%) were active in the local Chinese medicine profession whereas 265 (12.0%) reported to be inactive in the local Chinese medicine profession. Among the 1 939 active registered Chinese medicine pracitioners, 1 884 (97.2%) were practising in the local Chinese medicine profession, 17 (0.9%) (a) were not practising in the Chinese medicine profession in Hong Kong during the survey period; (b) had been available for work during the seven days before the survey; and (c) had sought work in the Chinese medicine profession during the 30 days before the survey, 12 (0.6%) reported having temporary sickness and 26 (1.3%) (a) were not practising in the Chinese medicine profession in Hong Kong during the survey period; (b) had been available for work during the seven days before the survey; and (c) were waiting to take up new jobs, starting business at subsequent date, believing no work available or expecting to return to their original jobs in the local Chinese medicine profession during the 30 days before the survey. Of the 265 inactive registered Chinese medicine pracitioners, 35 (13.2%) reported practising in the Mainland, eight (3.0%) reported practising overseas and 222 (83.8%) reported not practising in the Chinese medicine profession in Hong Kong and not seeking job in the Chinese medicine profession during the 30 days before the survey. Of the 222 inactive registered Chinese medicine pracitioners, 112 (50.5%) were working in other professions, 49 (22.1%) were retired, 33 (14.9%) wanted to take rest / having no motive to work / having no financial need, 18 (8.1%) were engaged in household duties and the remaining ten (4.5%) had reported undertaking study, emigrated, etc. Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding

Chinese Medicine Practitioners with Limited Registration

9. Of the 26 responding Chinese medicine practitioners with limited registration, all were economically active*† (active) in the local Chinese medicine profession .

10. The 26 active Chinese medicine practitioners with limited registration were all practising in the local Chinese medicine profession.

* In the survey, the criteria used in defining economically active / inactive followed those recommended by the International Labour Organization, which are also being used by the Census and Statistics Department in Hong Kong.

† "Economically active" Chinese medicine practitioners with limited registration comprised all "employed" and "unemployed" Chinese medicine practitioners with limited registration. "Employed" Chinese medicine practitioners with limited registration referred to those Chinese medicine practitioners with limited registration practising in the Chinese medicine profession in Hong Kong during the survey period, while "unemployed" Chinese medicine practitioners with limited registration referred to those Chinese medicine practitioners with limited registration who (a) were not practising in the Chinese medicine profession during the survey period; (b) had been available for work during the seven days before the survey; and (c) had sought work in the Chinese medicine profession during the 30 days before the survey.

11. The survey findings presented below were based on the 26 responding Chinese medicine practitioners with limited registration practising in the local Chinese medicine profession as at 31.8.2011. As some questionnaires contained missing information, percentages presented below may not add up to 100%.

(i)

Of the 26 active Chinese medicine practitioners with limited registration enumerated, 14(53.8%) were male and 12(46.2%) were female, giving an overall sex ratio of 117 (males per 100 females). One Chinese medicine practitioner with limited registration did not indicate the age and the median age of the remaining 25 active Chinese medicine practitioners with limited registration enumerated was 53.0 years.

(ii)

Distribution by sector of the main job* showed that 16 (61.5%) were working in the academic sector, followed by six (23.1%) in the Hospital Authority and four (15.4%) in the subvented sector.

(iii)

57.7% spent most of their working time on general practice, followed by 26.9% on acupuncture.

(iv)

The median hours of work (excluding meal breaks) per week of the 26 active Chinese medicine practitioners with limited registration enumerated was 40.0 hours. One (3.8%) Chinese medicine practitioner with limited registration was required to undertake on-call duty (excluding meal breaks).

* Main jobs referred to the jobs in which the Chinese medicine practitioners with limited registration had spent most of their working time.

Listed Chinese Medicine Practitioners

12.Of the 564 responding listed Chinese medicine practitioners, 454(80.5%) were economically active*† (active) whereas 110(19.5%) reported to be economically inactive*‡(inactive) in the local Chinese medicine profession.

13.Of the 454 active listed Chinese medicine practitioners, 439(96.7%) were practising in the local Chinese medicine profession, seven(1.5%) were seeking jobs, three(0.7%) were having temporary sickness and five(1.1%) were waiting to take up new jobs, expecting to return to their original jobs or believing no work available in the local Chinese medicine profession during the 30 days before the survey.

14.The survey findings presented below were based on the 439 responding listed Chinese medicine practitioners practising in the local Chinese medicine profession as at 31.8.2011. As some questionnaires contained missing information, percentages presented below may not add up to 100%.

(i)

One listed Chinese medicine practitioner did not indicate the sex. Of the remaining 438 active listed Chinese medicine practitioners enumerated, 319 (72.8%) were male and 119 (27.2%) were female, giving an overall sex ratio of 268 (males per 100 females). The median age of the active listed Chinese medicine practitioners enumerated was 60.0 years.

(ii)

Distribution by sector of the main job§ showed that 418 (95.2%) were working in the private sector, followed by four (0.9%) in the academic sector and three (0.7%) in the subvented sector.

(iii)

53.3% spent most of their working time on general practice, followed by 26.4% on bone-setting and 11.4% on acupuncture.

(iv)

The median hours of work (excluding meal breaks) per week of the 439 active listed Chinese medicine practitioners enumerated was 42.0 hours. 65(14.8%) listed Chinese medicine practitioners were required to undertake on-call duty (excluding normal duty), with a median of 14.0 hours of on-call duty (excluding normal duty) per week.

* In the survey, the criteria used in defining economically active/inactive followed those recommended by the International Labour Organization, which are also being used by the Census and Statistics Department in Hong Kong.

† "Economically active" listed Chinese medicine practitioners comprised all "employed" and "unemployed" listed Chinese medicine practitioners. "Employed" listed Chinese medicine practitioners referred to those listed Chinese medicine practitioners practising in the Chinese medicine profession in Hong Kong during the survey period, while "unemployed" listed Chinese medicine practitioners referred to those listed Chinese medicine practitioners who (a) were not practising in the Chinese medicine profession during the survey period; (b) had been available for work during the seven days before the survey; and (c) had sought work in the Chinese medicine profession during the 30 days before the survey.

‡ "Economically inactive" listed Chinese medicine practitioners comprised the listed Chinese medicine practitioners who were not practising in the Chinese medicine profession in Hong Kong during the survey period, but excluding those who had been on leave during the survey period and who were "economically active" but "unemployed".

§ Main jobs referred to the jobs in which the listed Chinese medicine practitioners had spent most of their working time.

15.Among the 110 inactive listed Chinese medicine practitioners :

(i)

11 listed Chinese medicine practitioners reported practising in the Mainland and eight reported practising overseas.

(ii)

91 listed Chinese medicine practitioners reported not practising in the Chinese medicine profession in Hong Kong and not seeking job in the local Chinese medicine profession during the 30 days before the survey. The reasons reported for not seeking job included: 37(40.7%) were retired, 34(37.4%) were working in other professions, nine(9.9%) were engaged in household duties, eight(8.8%) wanted to take rest/having no motive to work/having no financial need, etc.

Of the 2 763 listed Chinese medicine pracitioners covered, 564 (20.4%) had responded to the survey, while the remaining 2 199 (79.6%) had not responded. Among the respondents, 454 (80.5%) were active in the local Chinese medicine profession whereas 110 (19.5%) reported to be inactive in the local Chinese medicine profession. Among the 454 active listed Chinese medicine pracitioners, 439 (96.7%) were practising in the local Chinese medicine profession, seven (1.5%) (a) were not practising in the Chinese medicine profession in Hong Kong during the survey period; (b) had been available for work during the seven days before the survey; and (c) had sought work in the Chinese medicine profession during the 30 days before the survey, three (0.7%) reported having temporary sickness and five (1.1%) (a) were not practising in the Chinese medicine profession in Hong Kong during the survey period; (b) had been available for work during the seven days before the survey; and (c) were waiting to take up new jobs, expecting to return to their original jobs or believing no work available in the local Chinese medicine profession during the 30 days before the survey. Of the 110 inactive listed Chinese medicine pracitioners, 11 (10.0%) reported practising in the Mainland, eight (7.3%) reported practising overseas and 91 (82.7%) reported not practising in the Chinese medicine profession in Hong Kong and not seeking job in the Chinese medicine profession during the 30 days before the survey. Of the 91 inactive listed Chinese medicine pracitioners, 37 (40.7%) were retired, 34 (37.4%) were working in other professions, nine (9.9%) were engaged in household duties, eight (8.8%) wanted to take rest / having no motive to work / having no financial need and the remaining three (3.3%) had reported undertaking study, etc. Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding

Notes﹕ * Figure refers to the number of responding listed Chinese medicine practitioners who (a) were not practising in the Chinese medicine profession in Hong Kong during the survey period; (b) had been available for work during the seven days before the survey; and (c) had sought work in the Chinese medicine profession during the 30 days before the survey.
† Figure refers to the number of responding listed Chinese medicine practitioners who (a) were not practising in the Chinese medicine profession in Hong Kong during the survey period; (b) had been available for work during the seven days before the survey; and (c) were waiting to take up new jobs, expecting to return to their original jobs or believing no work available in the local Chinese medicine profession during the 30 days before the survey.
‡ Figure refers to the number of responding listed Chinese medicine practitioners who reported undertaking study, etc.
Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

Department of Health
The Government of the Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region
August 2012

11 Jan 2013