XN000022-1974-03-08 — Page 7

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Friday, March 8, 1974

Ilo suggested that while this total might indicate a shortage

of pharmacists, it was not true that the government had failed "to gras

the nettle of training pharmacists locally."

No fewer than three attempts had been made since 1934 to do precisely this. The programme conducted by the Technical Institute of the Education Department was interrupted by the Pacific War, and when it was recuned in 1946, poor enrolment probably led to its discontinuance.

A diploma two-year course in pharmacy was run by the Hong

Kong University from September 1952 to June 1956. Three classes wore

held, and 20 students graduated from an entry of 25. Dr. Choa told the gathering he was not sure why it was not continued subsequently, but "looking at the small number of students, I suspect that once again

the lack of response might be the reason."

Ten years ago, four government scholarships were made available. Three students returned from Britain and Australia, and were registered,

but only ono was still practising locally. Since then, instead of open scholarships, the government had sent eight of its own dispensers

abroad to qualify as pharmacista.

Dr. Choa said while the report of the Medical Development

Advisory Committee had not dealt with the question of pharmacists

because the professions allied to medicine had not been included in

its terms of reference, the Medical and Health Department was aware of the need to provide more pharmacists, and the problem was fully

recognised.

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/"Consequently,