{
  "id": 5962167,
  "title": "‘There are trade-offs’: how Hong Kong patients can use telemedicine wisely",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/06/there-are-trade-offs-how-hong-kong-patients-can-use-telemedicine-5962167",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-06T11:00:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3366499/there-are-trade-offs-how-hong-kong-patients-can-use-telemedicine-wisely"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Telehealth is revolutionizing healthcare access for Hong Kong patients, but practitioners warn it cannot entirely replace in-person diagnosis. Hong Kong's Housewife Chan Ket-yee, a long-time sufferer of severe eczema, relied on telehealth consultations to manage her condition while living between the UK and Hong Kong. Chan found that visiting a Hong Kong dermatologist provided a more effective treatment plan than UK doctors, who offered basic advice. WeDerm, a Hong Kong clinic specializing in eczema care, offers telehealth services to clients with busy schedules and those who travel during treatment. However, clinic founder Harrison Li Kin-cheung believes in-person visits are crucial for building trust with patients, particularly children and their parents. TCM clinics in Hong Kong also provide online consultations, with around 3 percent of Yu Sheung-fung's 30-50 year-old clients using telemedicine. Yu Fung Chinese Medicine Group has a UK partner that delivers prescribed medication to Hong Kong patients. Despite the convenience of telemedicine, practitioners note \"trade-offs\" due to the absence of certain diagnostic methods, such as pulse-taking. To address this, practitioners advise patients to ensure a stable internet connection, sufficient lighting, and a quiet environment for online consultations.",
  "summary": "In the fourth instalment of a five-part Health Matters wellness series on Hong Kong’s growing wellness trends, Lo Hoi-ying examines how telehealth is reshaping access to care, as practitioners warn it cannot fully replace in-person diagnosis. Hong Kong housewife Chan Ket-yee, nearly 60, has battled severe eczema on her neck and underarms for decades. Splitting her time between the United Kingdom…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "Hong Kong open to classifying heatstroke as an occupational disease: labour chief",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/06/hong-kong-open-to-classifying-heatstroke-as-an-occupational-disease",
        "published": "2026-09-06T06:58:23.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}