Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ12: Regulation of pharmacists and the pharmaceutical trade
Following is a question by the Hon Joseph Lee and a written reply by the
Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, in the Legislative Council
today (January 9):
Question:
At present, the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong (the Board) is
responsible for matters relating to the regulation of pharmacists and the
pharmaceutical industry. Some pharmacists have relayed to me that as the
Board is responsible only for the registration and disciplinary matters of
pharmacists, it is not effective in promoting the professional development
of pharmacists. It is noted that the Board proposed in the 1980s, and
again in 1996-1997, that legislative amendments be made to place
pharmacists and the pharmaceutical industry under the supervision of
different authorities, and the Board had drafted a bill for that purpose.
On the other hand, the Review Committee on Regulation of Pharmaceutical
Products in Hong Kong published a report in 2009, making 75
recommendations on the regulatory regime for the pharmaceutical industry.
In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) whether the authorities have followed up the aforesaid proposed
legislative amendments; if they have, of the details of the follow-up
work; whether the authorities will make reference to that proposal and
amend the existing legislation in order to establish a pharmacist board
responsible for matters such as the registration of pharmacists, as well
as their professional standards, conduct and development, etc.;
(b) whether the authorities have plans to develop a code of conduct and a
code of practice for pharmacists, so as to further enhance the safety in
the administration of medication for patients; if they have, of the
details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(c) of the latest progress of the authorities' follow-up on the aforesaid
75 recommendations; whether they will implement these recommendations
together with the proposal of establishing a pharmacist board; if they
will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
Pharmacists and the pharmaceutical trade have all along been subject to
stringent regulatory control in Hong Kong. The regulatory control over
pharmacists and the pharmaceutical trade under the Pharmacy and Poisons
Ordinance (Cap. 138) (PPO) and its regulations covers the registration and
professional conduct of pharmacists, the registration of pharmaceutical
products and practising requirements for the pharmaceutical trade, etc.
The Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong established under the PPO is
responsible for carrying out the provisions of the PPO.
My reply to the various parts of the question is as follows:
(a) The Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong previously made a proposal
to the Government on the establishment of different boards for separate
regulation of pharmacists and the pharmaceutical trade. We also conducted
a study on the proposal between 1996 and 1998. As the PPO already covered
the regulation of pharmacists and the pharmaceutical trade, protecting the
safety of the public regarding the purchase and use of pharmaceutical
products in Hong Kong and regulating the professional conduct of
pharmacists, no amendment was made to the relevant legislation at that
time in response to the proposal. We understand the pharmacist
profession's request for separate regulation of pharmacists and the
pharmaceutical trade, and will give further deliberation to the issue.
Moreover, the Government has set up a Steering Committee on Strategic
Review on Healthcare Manpower Planning and Professional Development,
chaired by the Secretary for Food and Health, to conduct a strategic
review of healthcare manpower planning and professional development in
Hong Kong. The review will cover the 13 healthcare professions currently
subject to statutory regulation including pharmacists. The Steering
Committee will put forward recommendations on how to strengthen
professional training and facilitate professional development having
regard to the findings of the strategic review, with a view to ensuring
the healthy and sustainable development of Hong Kong's healthcare system.
(b) Formulation of a code of practice can facilitate a better
regularisation of the pharmacist profession and enhance public confidence
in the pharmacist profession. We will consider inviting the Pharmacy and
Poisons Board of Hong Kong to develop such a code for pharmacists so as to
raise the standards of their professional services.
(c) The Department of Health has been actively implementing the 75
recommendations put forward in the Report of the Review Committee on
Regulation of Pharmaceutical Products in Hong Kong. Recommendations which
have already been implemented include the setting up of the Drug Office in
September 2011, raising the requirements of microbiological monitoring in
the process of drug manufacturing by local drug manufacturers, stepping up
inspection on drug manufacturers and traders, and provision of more
information on drug safety on the website of the Drug Office, etc. While
follow-up actions are still being taken on some of the recommendations,
the implementation of some others requires amendments to be made to the
existing PPO and related regulations. We are now drafting the relevant
legislative amendments and will submit them to the Legislative Council in
due course.
Setting up of an independent Pharmacists Board is not among the
recommendations of the Review Committee. We are taking forward the
recommendations of the Review Committee to make legislative amendments to
tackle the limitations of our existing regulation and law enforcement over
pharmaceutical products under the PPO so as to enhance drug safety as soon
as possible.
Ends/Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Issued at HKT 16:00
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