The World Health Organization (WHO) designated the Chinese Medicine Division (CMD) of the Health Department in Hong Kong as the Collaborating Center for Traditional Medicine (CCTM) on May 9.

It is the first such center of its kind in the world and will focus on assisting the WHO to formulate policies and strategies as well as setting regulatory standards for traditional medicine.

The CMD of the Health Department, founded in 1997, is a designated division tasked with regulating, promoting and improving the safety, quality and efficacy of Chinese medicine.

At the center's opening ceremony, Secretary for Food and Health of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, York Chow, said, "Traditional medicine is no doubt a precious resource which has much to offer in complementing conventional medicine."

Following the ceremony, a three-day meeting of global experts was held to develop the next WHO traditional medicine strategy. The new global strategy will take into account various countries' progress and new challenges in the field with an ultimate goal of supporting member states in integrating traditional medicine into their respective national health systems.