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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1981
CONTROL ON MEDICINE EXPLAINED
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THE FORENSIC PHARMACY DIVISION OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS STEPPED UP MEASURES TO ENFORCE CONTROL ON THE SALE OF PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS IN ORDER TO SAFEGUARD THE PUBLIC AGAINST DEFECTIVE AND HARMFUL MEDICINE.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE CHIEF PHARMACIST, MR K.Y. LI IN A TALK TO THE CITY LIONS CLUB OF HONG KONG THIS (TUESDAY) AFTERNOON.
HE POINTED OUT THAT HIS DIVISION HAS RECENTLY BEEN EXPANDED TO COPE WITH THE INCREASED EFFORTS IN DRUG CONTROL.
MR LI SAID THAT FORENSIC PHARMACY INSPECTORS ARE REGULARLY INSPECTING SOME 4 000 MEDICINE COMPANIES, PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURERS AND WHOLESALE DEALERS TO SEE THAT THEY COMPLY WITH THE PROVISION OF THE PHARMACY AND POISONS REGULATIONS.
APART FROM THE REGULAR INSPECTION OF DEALER PREMISES, THE INSPECTORS ALSO UNDERTAKE INVESTIGATIVE WORK AND PROSECUTION OF OFFENDERS.
ANOTHER IMPORTANT FUNCTION OF THE FORENSIC PHARMACY DIVISION IS TO CARRY OUT REGULAR CHECKS AND ANALYSIS OF CHINESE MEDICINE TO DETECT WHETHER THERE ARE ANY ADULTERATIONS WITH WESTERN DRUGS.
MR LI SAID THAT UNDER THE PHARMACY AND POISONS ORDINANCE, ALL PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS ARE REQUIRED TO BE REGISTERED WITH THE DEPARTMENT BEFORE THEY CAN BE INTRODUCED IN THE MARKET OR IMPORTED TO HONG KONG.
FORENSIC PHARMACY INSPECTORS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT MEDICINAL DRUGS ON SALE IN THE MARKET ARE PROPERLY REGISTERED BY REGULAR INSPECTION OF DEALER PREMISES.
THE CHIEF PHARMACIST SAID THAT THERE ARE THREE CATEGORIES OF CONTROLLED DRUGS UNDER THE PROVISION OF THE PHARMACY AND POISONS ORDINANCE.
THE FIRST CATEGORY IS DANGEROUS DRUGS WHICH INCLUDE SUBSTANCES SUCH AS HEROIN, MORPHINE AND METHADONE.
THESE DRUGS, IF USED WITHOUT PROPER SAFEGUARDS, MAY EASILY INDUCE PHYSICAL DEPENDENCE AND THE VICTIM BECOMES A DRUG ADDICT.
DANGEROUS DRUGS ARE SUBJECT TO VERY STRINGENT CONTROL BY LAW. THE IMPORT AND EXPORT IS CONTROLLED BY A SYSTEM OF IMPORT CERTIFICATE AND EXPORT LICENCE WHICH IS MONITORED BY AN INTERNATIONAL BODY KNOWN AS THE INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CENTRAL BOARD WHICH HAS ITS HEADQUARTERS IN GENEVA,
/THE AUTHORITY