11 Mar 2010
Further investigation by the Department of Health today (March 11) into the suspected illegal sale of prescription drugs by wholesalers directly to patients has revealed that four more drugs were involved.
The additional drugs were CellCept, Eprex, Pegasys and Regpara.
Eprex and Regpara are both usually used by patients with chronic renal failure, the former for management of anaemia and the latter for treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism. CellCept is used as an immunosuppressant for the prevention of graft rejection while Pegasys is used by patients with hepatitis.
The above four drugs are all registered in Hong Kong by three wholesalers, two of which have already been revealed by previous investigation and there is another new one today.
Taken together, investigation thus far revealed that a total of eight prescription drugs, three wholesalers, 14 Hospital Authority hospitals and four private hospitals were involved. The hospitals were Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital, Caritas Medical Centre, Kwong Wah Hospital, North District Hospital, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Prince of Wales Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Queen Mary Hospital, Tuen Mun Hospital, Tung Wah Hospital, United Christian Hospital, Wong Tai Sin Hospital and Yan Chai Hospital; and in the private sector, Baptist Hospital, Canossa Hospital, St Paul's Hospital and St Teresa's Hospital.
According to information in hand, the practice in question probably commenced around 2004 at the earliest. It was understood that two modes of operation were used.
In the first mode adopted by one wholesaler, the drugs were sold directly to patients who had prescriptions, bypassing licensed dispensaries.
In the second mode adopted by the other two wholesalers, patients placed orders with the wholesalers directly. The drugs were then delivered to patients through distributors which also collected the prescriptions and money and sent the former to licensed dispensaries.
It is apparent that both modes were enabled through hospital healthcare workers who introduced the wholesalers to patients besides supplying them with the prescriptions.
Investigation will continue.
A department spokesman reiterated that according to the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Chapter 138), only licensed dispensaries are authorised to sell prescription drugs to patients.
He said that prescription medicines can be sold only on a doctor's prescription and dispensed under the supervision of a pharmacist.
"Sale of controlled drugs by any company or anybody not in accordance with the law is an offence. The maximum penalty is a fine of $100,000 and two years' imprisonment," he said.