XN000022-1975-07-16 — Page 10

WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, 1975

TURNING TO THE POISONS LIST REGULATIONS, THE DIRECTOR SAID THEY HAVE BEEN EXTENDED TO COVER A MUCH WIDER RANGE OF SUBSTANCES AND DRUGS AS IT HAS BEEN NECESSARY TO INCLUDE MANY SUBSTANCES AND NEW DRUGS WHICH ARE ON THE MARKET AND WHICH MAY GIVE RISE TO UNDERSIRABLE EFFECTS IF USED WITHOUT PROPER SAFEGUARDS.

BUT ON THE ADVICE OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, HE PROPOSED AN AMENDMENT TO THE POISONS LIST TO EXEMPT ORAL CONTRACEPTIVE PILLS FROM PRESCRIPTION AND CONTROL OF SALE, AND HE WENT ON TO EXPLAIN WHY IT WAS NECESSARY TO DO SO.

AMONG A VERY WIDE RANGE AND VARIETY OF SUBSTANCES INCLUDED IN THE POISONS LIST IS A GROUP OF POTENT THERAPEUTIC AGENTS KNOWN AS HORMONES, OF WHICH THERE ARE NO LESS THAN SIX DIFFERENT CATEGORIES.

THESE HORMONAL SUBSTANCES BY REASON OF THEIR EFFECTS ON THE PHYSIOLOGY OF THE HUMAN BODY COULD HARDLY BE REGARDED AS INNOCUOUS AND BE TREATED AS SUCH, DR. CHOA SAID.

TWO OF THESE HORMONES, ESTROGEN AND PROGESTERONE, ARE NORMALLY USED IN THE CONTRACEPTIVE PILL.

THE DIRECTOR SAID WHILE THE PHARMACY AND POISONS BOARD IS AWARE OF UP-TO-DATE CHANGES OF AUTHORITATIVE AND PROFESSIONAL OPINION IN BOTH THE U.K. AND U.S.A. WHERE THE CONTRACEPTIVE PILL IS AVAILABLE ONLY ON A PHYSICIAN'S PRESCRIPTION, THE FACT REMAINS THAT RISKS IN THE FORM OF COMPLICATIONS AND SIDE EFFECTS DO EXIST, PARTICULARLY IF THESE SUBSTANCES ARE TAKEN IN HIGH DOSAGES.

+WHEN ONE CONSIDERS FURTHER THAT THE PILL IN ORDER TO BE EFFECTIVE HAS TO BE TAKEN REGULARLY DAY AFTER DAY ON A LONG TERMS BASIS CAUTION SHOULD BE EXERCISED, HE SAID.

ON THE OTHER HAND, HE SAID, IT IS ACCEPTED ON BALANCE THAT, IN THE PECULIAR CIRCUMSTANCES IN HONG KONG, THE USUAL LOW DOSAGÉ CONTRACEPTIVE PILLS SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE AVAILABLE WITHOUT THE NEED FOR A PRESCRIPTION.

LOW DOSAGE CONTRACEPTIVE PILLS ARE THOSE WITH AN ESTROGENIC CONTENT OF NOT MORE THAN 50 MICROGRAMME AND PROGESTATIONAL CONTENT OF NOT MORE THAN FIVE MILLIGRAM.

HOWEVER, AS A SAFEGUARD THE BOARD INTENDS TO CONSIDER INTRODUCING A REQUIREMENT FOR SUITABLE WARNING NOTICES TO BE PROVIDED WITH EVERY PACKAGE OF ALL ORAL CONTRACEPTIVE PILLS AS IS ALREADY THE CASE WITH SOME PREPARATIONS.

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