Speeches
LC: Speech by SFH on proposed resolution under Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance
Following is the speech (English translation) by the Secretary for Food and
Health, Dr York Chow, in moving a motion on the proposed resolution on
Pharmacy and Poisons (Amendment) (No.5) Regulation 2009 and Poisons List
(Amendment) (No.5) Regulation 2009 under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance
in the Legislative Council today (January 20):
President,
I move that the motion under my name, as printed on the Agenda, be passed.
Currently, we regulate the sale and supply of pharmaceutical products
through a registration and monitoring system set up in accordance with the
Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance. The Ordinance maintains a Poisons List under
the Poisons List Regulations and several Schedules under the Pharmacy and
Poisons Regulations. Pharmaceutical products put under different parts of
the Poisons List and different Schedules are subject to different levels of
control in regard to the conditions of sale and keeping of records.
For the protection of public health, some pharmaceutical products can only
be sold in pharmacies under the supervision of registered pharmacists and in
their presence. For certain pharmaceutical products, proper records of the
particulars of the sale must be kept, including the date of sale, the name
and address of the purchaser, the name and quantity of the medicine and the
purpose for which it is required. The sale of some pharmaceutical products
must be authorised by prescription from a registered medical practitioner,
dentist or veterinary surgeon.
Arising from an application for registration of four pharmaceutical
products, the Pharmacy and Poisons Board proposes to add the following four
substances to Part I of the Poisons List and the First and Third Schedules
to the Pharmacy and Poisons Regulations:
(a) Lenalidomide; its salts
(b) Melatonin; its salts; when contained in pharmaceutical products intended
to be used for the treatment of insomnia
(c) Tocilizumab
(d) Ustekinumab
Pharmaceutical products containing the above substances must then be sold in
pharmacies under the supervision of registered pharmacists and in their
presence, with the support of prescriptions.
We propose that these amendment regulations take immediate effect upon
gazettal on January 22, 2010 to allow early control and sale of the relevant
medicine.
The two Amendment Regulations are made by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board,
which is a statutory authority established under the Ordinance to regulate
pharmaceutical products. The Board comprises members engaged in the
pharmacy, medical and academic professions. The Board considers the proposed
amendments necessary in view of the potency, toxicity and potential side
effects of the medicine concerned.
With these remarks, President, I move the motion.
Ends/Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Issued at HKT 17:11
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