20 Apr 2009
In response to media enquiries about a news report that pseudoephedrine-containing pharmaceutical products were bought from local pharmacies for making of methamphetamine (ICE) outside Hong Kong, a spokesman for the Department of Health (DH) said the department had attached great importance to the allegation and would investigate if there were abnormal transaction of these products in local market.
The spokesman said pseudoephedrine was a safe and effective drug commonly used for the treatment of cold and any pharmaceutical products containing it must be sold under the supervision of a registered pharmacist.
Noting that there were calls for tightening the control of this type of pharmaceutical products to avoid the drug being misused, the spokesman said a balance had to be struck to ensure members of the public would have ready access to a safe and effective drug.
"However, the issue will be referred to the Pharmacy and Poisons Board for further study as appropriate," the spokesman said.