Chart A: Breakdown of Pharmacists Covered and Activity Status of Pharmacists Enumerated

Of the 3 332 pharmacists covered*, 1 371 responded to the survey, including 488 (35.6%) who submitted their responses through online platform and 883 (64.4%) who submitted by post, giving an overall response rate of 41.1%. Among the 1 371 responding pharmacists, 1 109 (80.9%) were active and 262 (19.1%) were inactive as at the survey reference date of 30 June 2024.

Of the 1 109 active pharmacists enumerated, 1 086 (97.9%) were practising in the local pharmacy profession, and 22 (2.0%) were seeking jobs in the local pharmacy profession#.

Of the 262 inactive pharmacists enumerated, 170 (64.9%) reported not seeking jobs in the local pharmacy profession during the 30 days before the survey reference date, 86 (32.8%) reported practising overseas, four (1.5%) reported practising in Macao or other areas of the Greater Bay Area and one (0.4%) reported practising in other areas of the Mainland.
  
The reasons for not seeking jobs in the local pharmacy profession included: 62 (36.5%) had retired, 46 (27.1%) were working in other professions, 19 (11.2%) wanted to take a rest/had no motive to work/had no financial need, etc.


Notes:
* Figure refers to the number of pharmacists who had registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Chapter 138) as at the survey reference date of 30 June 2024.

# Figure refers to the number of responding pharmacists who (a) were not practising in the pharmacy profession in Hong Kong as at the survey reference date; (b) had been available for work in the local pharmacy profession during the seven days before the survey reference date; AND (c) had sought work in the local pharmacy profession during the 30 days before the survey reference date.

Percentage may not add up to 100% due to rounding.