Press Release

DH briefs group medical practices on proper handling of pharmaceutical products

5 December 2005

The Director of Health, Dr PY Lam, today (December 5) met with senior management of some group medical practices at the Public Health Laboratory Centre in Sham Shui Po to remind them to comply with legal requirements on drug regulation.

The meeting was organized after the DH found a number of group medical practices and private clinics administered un-registered flu vaccine of unknown source to clients who approached them for vaccination recently.

During the meeting, Dr Lam briefed representatives of group medical practices the existing regulations governing the import, supply, storage and use of pharmaceutical products.

Dr Lam explained that only companies holding wholesaler's licence, manufacturer's licence or pharmacy licence are entitled to provide pharmaceutical products to medical practioners.

As for doctors and managements of group medical practices, Dr Lam said they were required to check the identity and integrity of the drugs they ordered before accepting them.

"They should sign and return transaction documents to the supplier concerned," Dr Lam added.

He also reminded the representatives that they must keep a proper record of the drugs that they or the medical practitioners of their groups possessed and details of prescription.

Dr Lam said pharmaceutical products of unknown source and which have not been registered according to the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (PPO) are potentially harmful in that their safety, efficacy and quality could not be ascertained.

He reiterated at the meeting that the supply of unregistered pharmaceutical products is an offence under the PPO, with the maximum penalties on conviction of a fine of $100 000 and two years' imprisonment.

Briefings of this kind will also be arranged for other group medical practices later this week. Group medical practices interested to attend may visit the DH's website http://www.dh.gov.hk for details.