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Statistics

2012 Health Manpower Survey on Pharmacists

Key Findings


1.  The pharmacists covered in the 2012 HMS were pharmacists registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Chapter 138) as at the survey reference date – 31.8.2012.

2.  The number of pharmacists covered was 2 105.

3.  Of the 2 105 registered pharmacists covered, 1 049 responded to the survey, giving an overall response rate of 49.8%.  Of the 1 049 responding pharmacists, 838 (79.9%) were economically active*† (active) whereas 211 (20.1%) reported to be economically inactive*‡ (inactive) in the local pharmacy profession ( See Chart ) .

4.  Of the 838 active pharmacists, 823 (98.2%) were practising in the local pharmacy profession, 13 (1.6%) were seeking jobs and two (0.2%) were starting business at subsequent date or waiting to take up a new job in the local pharmacy profession during the 30 days before the survey.

5.  The survey findings presented below were based on the 823 responding pharmacists practising in the local pharmacy profession as at 31.8.2012.  As some questionnaires had missing responses, percentages presented below may not add up to 100%.

6.  Among the 211 inactive pharmacists ( See Chart ) .

* In the survey, the criteria used in defining economically active / inactive followed those recommended by the International Labour Organization, which are also being used by the Census and Statistics Department in Hong Kong.

†  "Economically active" pharmacists comprised all "employed" and "unemployed" pharmacists.  "Employed" pharmacists referred to those pharmacists practising in the pharmacy profession in Hong Kong during the survey period, while "unemployed" pharmacists referred to those pharmacists who (a) were not practising in the local pharmacy profession during the survey period; (b) had been available for work during the seven days before the survey; and (c) had sought work in the local pharmacy profession during the 30 days before the survey.

‡  "Economically inactive" pharmacists comprised the responding pharmacists who were not practising in the pharmacy profession in Hong Kong during the survey period, but excluding those who had been on leave during the survey period and those who were economically active but "unemployed".

§ Main jobs referred to the jobs in which the pharmacists had spent most of their working time.

║ Service in pharmacy referred to the work which had direct contact with patients in dispensing and patient counselling.

¶ Administration / Management referred to the work which was out of scope of pharmacy such as supervising staff, accounting, budget control, procurement of drugs, etc.

** Manufacturing / Marketing / Sales referred to the work involving in the pharmaceutical company (wholesaler) or pharmaceutical manufacturer such as manufacturing, marketing and sale.

Chart title: Activity Status of Pharmacists Covered Of the 2 105 pharmacists covered, 1 049 (49.8%) had responded to the survey, while the remaining 1 056 (50.2%) had not responded. Among the respondents, 838 (79.9%) were active in the local pharmacy profession whereas 211 (20.1%) reported to be inactive in the local pharmacy profession.

Notes﹕ * Figure refers to the number of responding pharmacists who (a) were not practising in the pharmacy profession in Hong Kong during the survey period; (b) had been available for work in the local pharmacy profession during the seven days before the survey; and (c) had sought work in the local pharmacy profession during the 30 days before the survey.
Figure refers to the number of responding pharmacists who (a) were not practising in the pharmacy profession in Hong Kong during the survey period; (b) had been available for work in the local pharmacy profession during the seven days before the survey; and (c) were starting business at subsequent date or waiting to take up a new job in the local pharmacy profession during the 30 days before the survey.
§ Figure refers to the number of responding pharmacists who reported emigrated, undertaking study, etc.
Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.
23 July 2013