When lives are on the line, all reasonable medical options should be on the table. However, a divide separating traditional Chinese and Western approaches undermines treatment and outcomes in many healthcare systems around the world.
It was good to see that barrier further dismantled last week when Hong Kong decided to allow cancer patients to receive subsidised acupuncture therapy at a public hospital.
The Hospital Authority announced that the traditional treatment can be provided to ease the side effects of oncology treatment.
A pilot programme being launched at Princess Margaret Hospital this month will be extended to Tuen Mun Hospital in October.
It takes a step beyond a similar scheme introduced in 2014 to ease the suffering of late-stage cancer patients who had already received various treatments.
Dr Fiona Lim Mei-ying, an oncology consultant at Princess Margaret Hospital, said the new programme would allow patients in earlier stages of their cancer fights to “have a better quality of life”.
Patients are expected to welcome the extra support to handle often gruelling treatments, which can cause nerve palsy, mouth dryness and fatigue as well as gastrointestinal discomfort, including loss of appetite, nausea and diarrhoea.
Hong Kong is well-positioned to explore such treatments. The city has world-class expertise in both disciplines. Research at such facilities helped create innovative treatments during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Support for researchers as well as regulation of the industry have helped build collaboration and trust. A 2017 study at a research centre run by Yan Chai Hospital and Baptist University found success with electroacupuncture for colorectal cancer patients.
Dr Toby Chan Kai-yin, the chief of service at the Chinese medicine clinic where the research was done, said results “showed that acupuncture is safe and effective in reducing the discomfort”.
The Hospital Authority’s move deserves support and encouragement. Mutual scepticism may take time to overcome, but careful study and application in a best-of-both-worlds approach could foster collaboration that benefits all.
via scmp