According to a recent statement by the Health Bureau (SSM), nearly 200 traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners, healthcare professionals and students attended a seminar jointly organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the local government, aimed at strengthening clinical safety standards and enhancing the role of acupuncture in helping people to quit smoking.
The seminar, titled “Ensuring Clinical Safety and Quality in Chinese Medicine-cum-Special Seminar on Acupuncture and Moxibustion for Smoking Cessation”*, was co-organised by the WHO and the local government, with support from the WHO Collaborating Centre for Traditional Medicine (Macau) under the Health Bureau on June 13.
Addressing the opening ceremony, SSM Deputy Director Cheang Seng Ip said the government continues to promote tobacco control through legislation, enforcement, public awareness campaigns and smoking cessation initiatives as part of the goals outlined in the “Healthy Macau Blueprint”, the statement said.
Cheang noted that acupuncture offers a safe treatment option with relatively few side effects and can help reduce withdrawal symptoms while improving emotional well-being and sleep quality among individuals attempting to quit smoking, the statement noted, adding he expressed hope that the seminar would strengthen the clinical capabilities of local TCM practitioners and make Chinese medicine services safer, more reliable and more accessible.
Meanwhile, WHO senior official Kim Sung-chol delivered a presentation on global traditional medicine developments, outlining the vision and priorities of the “WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034”, the statement said, adding that he also praised Macau’s achievements in advancing TCM.
The programme combined theoretical knowledge with clinical demonstrations and case studies, receiving positive feedback from participants, the statement pointed out. In addition, the bureau recently held a clinical practice meeting on acupuncture to aid people wishing to quit smoking at the Hengqin Macau New Neighbourhood Health Station, bringing together experts from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macau to exchange experiences on treatment pathways, service models, efficacy monitoring and safety management, the statement said.
According to the organisers, the seminar and accompanying professional exchanges reinforced Macau’s efforts to develop TCM services while supporting broader tobacco control objectives. Participants described the programme as “practical and informative”, offering valuable insights into WHO policies and international practices in traditional medicine and smoking cessation, the statement noted.
*Moxibustion is a traditional TCM therapy that involves burning a small, spongy herb known as moxa (ground, dried mugwort leaves) on or near specific acupuncture points on the body. The primary goal is to stimulate the flow of “qi” (vital energy), warm the meridians (energy pathways), and dispel cold or dampness to promote healing. – Gemini
This unlocated handout photo provided by the Health Bureau (SSM) recently shows World Health Organisation (WHO) senior official Kim Sung-chol presenting an overview of the global situation of traditional medicine on June 13.
