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Smoking cessation service using Chinese medicine accessible through DH hotline

4 May 2010

The Department of Health's (DH) Integrated Smoking Cessation Hotline (1833 183) will be enhanced from tomorrow (May 5) to enable access to the Pok Oi smoking cessation service using traditional Chinese Medicine.

Manned by trained counsellors, the integrated hotline currently provides access to services of the DH, Tung Wah Group of Hospitals and the Hospital Authority.

With addition of the Pok Oi smoking cessation service, callers will be able to receive information and advice on smoking cessation using traditional Chinese medicine, and to arrange appointments for the services.

The pilot community-based smoking cessation programme using traditional Chinese medicine is provided by Pok Oi Hospital (POH) in collaboration with the DH. The programme covers a comprehensive range of activities and services including smoking cessation service, education for the public and research projects.

Free smoking cessation service including counselling and acupuncture are provided by POH Chinese medicine practitioners in 10 mobile clinics, serving 48 locations in various districts. A Chinese Medicine Community Health Care Centre will be established to support these mobile clinics.

About 100 smokers have joined the smoking cessation programme since its launch on April 1 this year.

As at April 30, a total of 3,292 calls had been received on the DH's Integrated Smoking Cessation Hotline. Some 100 smokers have received cessation services in Pok Oi mobile clinics.