MONDAY, AUGUST 29, 1977
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GOVERNMENT MEDICINE FACTORY A VITAL LINK
IN HONG KONG'S MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
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HIDDEN IN AN OBSCURE WING OF A GOVERNMENT SUPPLIES COMPOUND IN OIL STREET, NORTH POINT, IS A SMALL MANUFACTORY THAT FORMS AN IMPORTANT PART OF HONG KONG'S MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES.
UNSEEN AND UNHEARD OF BY MOST PEOPLE, THE MANUFACTORY PRODUCES MILLIONS OF TABLETS, GALLONS OF MIXTURES AND THOUSANDS OF TUEES OF OINTMENTS AND STERILE PREPARATIONS+ EACH YEAR.
THESE PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS ARE DELIVERED TO GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS AND CLINICS FOR DISPENSING TO MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO SEEK TREATMENT. YET THE WORK OF THE MANUFACTORY, WHICH IS MANNED BY THE PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICE OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, LITTLE KNOWN TO ITS BENEFICIARIES.
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EQUIPPED WITH MODERN MACHINERY. THE MANUFACTORY PRODUCES AN ARRAY OF PILLS AND MIXTURES, VITAMINS AND INTRAVENOUS SOLUTIONS AS WELL AS OINTMENTS AND EYE-DROPS IN FACT MOST UNPATENTED PREPARATIONS REQUIRED IN BULK BY GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS AND CLINICS.
ALTHOUGH HUNDREDS OF PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS ARE MADE BY THE PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICE EACH YEAR, THEY ARE RELATIVELY SMALL COMPARED WITH THE TOTAL RANGE OF PRODUCTS USED IN THE HOSPITALS AND CLINICS, BUT BY VOLUME THE QUANTITY OF SERVICE-MADE PRODUCTS IS LARGER.
CHIEF PHARMACIST, MR. HARRY THUMB, EXPLAINED THAT COMMONLY USED PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS COULD BE MORE ECONOMICALLY AND EXPEDITIOUSLY MADE BY THE SERVICE'S MANUFACTORY THAN BUYING THEM
FROM WHOLESALERS.
+METHADONE MIXTURES FOR THE TREATMENT OF DRUG ADDICTS, FOR INSTANCE, ARE MADE IN THE PHARMACY LABORATORIES, HE SAID.
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WHATEVER THE PRODUCT, MR. THUMB EMPHASISED, IT IS PRODUCED UNDER STRICT STANDARD SPECIFICATION OR FORMULA.
THE MANUFACTURING SECTION IS ONLY ONE OF MANY IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS OF THE PHARMACY SERVICE WHICH IS MANNED EY 27 PHARMACISTS AND 202 DISPENSERS.
DRESSINGS AND MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, DRUGS OR ANY PRODUCT THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT MANUFACTURE, 173 PROCUREMENT SECTION SEES TO IT THAT TENDERS ARE SENT OUT AND EXPERT ADVICE GIVEN AS TO THE BEST PRODUCT TO BUY.
ON THE TRAINING ASPECT OF ITS WORK, THE SERVICE RUNS A THREE- YEAR COURSE FOR TRAINEE DISPENSERS ON A FULL-TIME BASIS. THE TRAINEES QUALIFY AS A DISPENSER ONLY AFTER PASSING AN EXAMINATION ON THE THIRD YEAR OF THEIR TRAINING.
/AT THE