MONDAY, MAY 29, 1989
9
CALL TO HEED LAWS AGAINST UNDESIRABLE MEDICAL ADVERTISEMENTS
AND
THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TODAY (MONDAY) CALLED ON PUBLISHERS ADVERTISING AGENCIES TO EXERCISE CARE WHEN PLACING MEDICAL ADVERTISEMENTS TO AVOID CONTRAVENTION OF THE UNDESIRABLE MEDICAL ADVERTISEMENTS (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE, 1988.
AND
NEWSPAPERS NUMBER OF
THE APPEAL FOLLOWED THE CONVICTION IN COURT OF FOUR TWO ADVERTISING COMPANIES AND THE RECEIPT OF A COMPLAINTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SINCE THE LEGISLATION CAME INTO FORCE ON AUGUST 15 LAST YEAR.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT A LETTER WAS SENT TODAY TO LOCAL PUBLISHERS AND ADVERTISING AGENCIES DRAWING THEIR ATTENTION TO CERTAIN PROVISIONS IN THE UNDESIRABLE MEDICAL ADVERTISEMENTS (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE 1988. SIMILAR LETTER WILL ALSO BE SENT TO PHARMACEUTICAL FIRMS.
FOR THEIR EASY REFERENCE, SCHEDULES LISTING DISEASES AND CONDITIONS FOR WHICH ADVERTISEMENTS ARE PROHIBITED, WERE ENCLOSED.
THE SPOKESMAN NOTED THAT THIS ORDINANCE ADVERTISEMENTS FOR TREATMENT OFFERED ABROAD.
ALSO APPLIES
ΤΟ
то WITHDRAW RISK OF
HE URGED THOSE WHO HAD PLACED SUCH ADVERTISEMENTS THEM IMMEDIATELY, ADDING THAT THEY MIGHT, OTHERWISE, RUN THE BEING PROSECUTED.
BY
FROM BEING INDUCED "THE ORDINANCE AIMS TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC
IMPROPER SEEK
TREATMENT FROM BY UNDESIRABLE ADVERTISEMENTS TO
OR UNQUALIFIED PERSONS
ΤΟ RESORT
WRONGFUL APPLICATION
IS "THE DEPARTMENT SELF-MEDICATION," THE SPOKESMAN SAID. THE SITUATION CLOSELY,'
MONITORING
THE
PROVISIONS
THE FIRST
UPON A
SECOND OR
ANY PERSON FOUND GUILTY OF CONTRAVENING ANY OF UNDER THE ORDINANCE IS LIABLE TO A FINE OF $10,000 UPON CONVICTION, AND $25,000 AND ONE-YEAR IMPRISONMENT SUBSEQUENT CONVICTION.
FIRMS WHO
THE FLOOR,
PUBLISHERS, ADVERTISING AGENCIES AND PHARMACEUTICAL WISH TO SEEK GENERAL ADVICE ON MEDICAL ADVERTISEMENTS MAY CONTACT
DEPARTMENT IN WRITING, 5TH PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES OF
CENTRE POINT, 181-185 GLOUSCESTER ROAD, WAN CHAI,
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