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Health
Non-communicable Diseases
The biggest killers in Hong Kong are cancer, heart and cerebrovascular diseases, which together accounted for about 52* per cent (*provisional figure) of all registered deaths in 2012. Elderly people are the major victims of these chronic non-communicable diseases which will continue to cause an increasing number of deaths in Hong Kong as the population ages.
A Cancer Co-ordinating Committee regularly makes recommendations for the prevention and control of cancer, which claimed more than 13,000* (*provisional figure) lives in Hong Kong in 2012. In 2012, about 105,000 women registered and were screened under the DH's cervical screening programme, which provides screening for women aged between 25 and 64.
Health Regulatory Activities
Healthcare Professionals
As at 31 December 2012, 13,006 doctors, 2,258 dentists, 9,372 Chinese medicine practitioners (CMPs) (including both listed and registered CMPs), 43,698 nurses (including both registered and enrolled nurses), 4,504 midwives, 2,127 pharmacists, 172 chiropractors, 2,428 physiotherapists, 1,517 occupational therapists, 3,088 medical laboratory technologists, 2,072 optometrists, 1,891 radiographers and 344 dental hygienists were registered in Hong Kong.
Western Medicines
Western medicines in Hong Kong are regulated under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance. Acting on the authority of the Pharmacy and Poisons Board, the DH evaluates and approves applications for the registration of pharmaceutical products, issues licences to drug. manufacturers, importers and exporters, wholesalers and retailers, and takes action against the illegal sale of controlled drugs in collaboration with the Hong Kong Police Force. Regulatory controls on poisons, antibiotics and dangerous drugs are also enforced by the DH.
In 2012, 3,410 applications for registration of pharmaceutical products were approved and as at year-end, 19,093 pharmaceutical products were registered in Hong Kong.
In 2009, a committee set up by the Government to review the regulation of pharmaceutical products issued a report putting forward 75 recommendations. As of December 2012, 36 of those recommendations relating to the DH had been implemented, including increasing the requirement for microbiological monitoring in the process of drug manufacturing by local drug manufacturers, stepping up inspections of local drug traders and providing more information on drug safety on the Drug Office's website. The DH is following up with the implementation of the remaining 30-odd recommendations, including 17 recommendations which involve amendments to the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance.
Chinese Medicines
Chinese medicines are regulated under the Chinese Medicine Ordinance, which requires any person engaged in the retail or wholesale of Chinese herbal medicines or the manufacture or wholesale of proprietary Chinese medicines to obtain a licence. Licensed manufacturers may apply for a Certificate for Manufacturer, certifying that they follow the requirements of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) in the manufacture and quality control of proprietary Chinese
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