Sir
UMELCO
DRAFT SPEECH BY DR HON CHIU HIN KWONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL - 30.7.86
Pharmacy and Poisons (Amendment) Bill 1986
The Pharmacy and Poisons (Amendment) Bill 1986 is a
timely move to tighten the control of sale of poisons and pharmaceutical products. It is particularly significant at a time when an increasing number of the population, for various
reasons, tend to undertake self-medication for minor health
problems.
To amend the definition of "dispensing" by including dispensing on a prescription made by a registered doctor, dentist or duly qualified veterinary surgeon is to prohibit
listed sellers of poisons from dispensing prescription. The
bill, if endorsed, will plug the loophole of the existing Ordinance and simultaneously will deter people without proper
pharmacological training to dispense.
One of the deficiencies in the present Ordinance is
in its definition of "sell" which does not cover "supply
without payment". The proposed amendment will enlarge the scope to include such area.
Besides other provisions, the bill empowering the Pharmacy and Poisons Board to reject applications for registration is on the right track. It not only enables the Board to use discretion and flexibility in screening
applications but also to disqualify those sellers who have been de-registered owing to committing of offence to re-apply registration under a new name.
UMELCO