GBA Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutical Professional Study tour

THEi has organized "Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutical Professional Study Tour” from 5 to 9 December 2019 in in collaboration with a number of professional groups of Chinese medicine professionals in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau. This study tour is an event of the GBA CM Pharmaceutical Professional exchange program, funded by HKSAR Government Professional Services Advancement Support Scheme (PASS). Dr. Dawn AU (program leader of CMP) and Dr. Wesley CHOW (teaching fellow) were the tour leader and the deputy tour leader, and Mr. Tommy LI (the representative of the 13th National People's Congress) was invited to be the honorable consultant. Several GBA CM scholars were also invited to honorable tutors in the study tour. Over 40 CM pharmaceutical professionals from different fields in Hong Kong Chinese Medicine industries participated this study tour.

The study tour has visited several cities in the Greater Bay Area with a profuse itinerary. In addition to visiting the State Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Quality Research of the University of Macau and a famous Chinese Medicinal oil manufacturer, the participants also had the opportunity to visit the first pure Traditional Chinese medicine hospital in China to learn about the pharmaceutical service and operation of the hospital. Besides these visits, a professional exchange forum with Guangdong Pharmacists Association was held to discuss the development and professional certification of Chinese medicine professionals in Hong Kong.

Besides the above indoor activities, the study tour arranged some meaningful field study regarding to Chinese medicinal materials and medicinal plants. The tour went to the origins of two famous Guangdong medicinal materials, Xinhui (origin of Chenpi i.e. tangerine peel) and Zhaoqing (origin of Qianshi, i.e. Gordon Euryale seed), to understand the actual planting environment and experience the process of harvesting and processing. At the Qingping Chinese herbal medicine market in Guangzhou, they learned about the specifications and identification characteristics of the medicinal materials. Moreover, we took a field trip in Dinghu Mountain to learn about the differentiation and application of the over 100 types of Lingnan medicinal plants.

The combination of technology and practice was successfully concluded. The participants have increased their knowledge of Chinese medicine innovative technology and professional development in the Greater Bay Area. The study tour provided opportunities for participants to communicate with GBA CM professionals and gain valuable practical experience.