Hospital Authority concerned about incident of suspected sale of public hospital patient drugs on online shopping platform
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson for the Hospital Authority (HA) made the following statement today (August 13) regarding a suspected incident of selling public hospital patient drugs on an online shopping platform:
The HA is very concerned about a suspected incident of selling public hospital patient drugs on an online shopping platform. The HA has initiated an investigation. If any illegal activity is found to be involved, the HA will pursue the matter seriously and report it to law enforcement agencies for further investigation.
The HA traced the source of the drug based on the online pictures and believed that the drug was prescribed by a doctor upon the discharge of a patient who was admitted to Hong Kong Buddhist Hospital in 2023. The HA has contacted the patient concerned to follow up on the incident.
The HA reminds members of the public that anyone who attempts to obtain drugs through improper means may be breaking the law. The spokesperson for the HA said, "The public should not buy drugs from unknown sources. Apart from the possibility of violating the law, the quality of the drugs is not guaranteed and may have adverse health effects."
The spokesperson said that the HA has strict procedures to handle and dispose of unused drugs, including those that have expired or have not been collected by patients, to prevent the relevant drugs from being used inappropriately. The drugs will be properly managed, and the storage records and distribution procedures are clear and certain. If anyone deliberately resells patients' drugs for profit, the HA will condemn such activities and take corresponding follow-up actions. The HA urges merchants selling drugs not to sell drugs from unknown sources. If there is any doubt about the source of drugs, they should report to relevant law enforcement and regulatory authorities.
The HA has always attached great importance to drug prescription arrangements and will continue to review and optimise relevant arrangements, including charging arrangements, to achieve the goals of reducing waste and rationalisation of resources.
Source: AI-generated images
Hospital Authority exchanges with Beijing healthcare institutes
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority (HA), Dr Tony Ko, led a delegation to visit Beijing for four consecutive days (September 10 to 13) to deepen exchanges and collaboration among healthcare institutions of the two places, and further promote registration pathways for non-locally trained doctors to exchange and work in Hong Kong in order to expand the healthcare talent pool in Hong Kong.
Dr Ko said, "The delegation visited the Beijing Municipal Health Commission and exchanged in-depth views on various medical and healthcare issues, and explored the deepening of exchanges and collaboration among public hospitals of Beijing and Hong Kong, including enhancing professional exchanges of healthcare talents between the two places, so that healthcare talents can leverage on respective strengths on a complementary principle to further uplift the quality of healthcare sectors in the two places."
The delegation also visited the Tsinghua University and the Capital Medical University respectively. Both institutions offer medical qualifications courses recognised by the Special Registration Committee of Hong Kong. The delegation introduced to the two institutions the arrangements for non-locally trained doctors to come to Hong Kong for exchange and work through limited or special registration, as well as the "Global Healthcare Talent Scheme" and various exchange programmes carried out by HA in different cities in the Mainland. The delegation also received briefings on the curriculum of medical education by representatives from the two institutions. The delegation also visited two affiliated hospitals of Capital Medical University, namely Beijing Youan Hospital and Beijing Friendship Hospital, to learn the latest developments of healthcare institutions and technology in the Mainland.
Dr Ko added that the public healthcare services in Hong Kong and Beijing can learn from each other, and are looking forward to further strengthening collaboration in hospital management and services development in the future, and hopes to enhance talent training and exchanges for enhancing the quality of healthcare services of the healthcare institutes in both places for the benefits of patients.
The delegation also participated in the 2024 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS). Dr Ko delivered a speech on "Public Hospital Management in Hong Kong: Towards a New Era of Smart Care" at the Beijing International Conference for Public Health Cooperation held under the CIFTIS, in which he shared HA's experience in the development of public hospital services through smart hospital initiatives with the medical and health experts from different countries and places. The delegation also visited the Thematic Exhibition on Health Services in the CIFTIS to learn about the high quality innovative development of public hospitals in the Mainland.
Hospital Authority exchanges with Beijing healthcare institutes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hospital Authority exchanges with Beijing healthcare institutes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hospital Authority exchanges with Beijing healthcare institutes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
