XN000022-1986-07-30 — Page 41

WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 1986

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HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAMMES ESSENTIAL

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HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAMMES FOR CONVEYING THE BASIC BUT ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE ON PHARMACY AND POISONS SHOULD BE PLANNED AND ORGANISED TO HELP THE GENERAL PUBLIC HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROPER USE OF PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS.

THIS WAS SUGGESTED BY DR THE HON CHIU HIN-KWONG DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE PHARMACY AND POISONS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1986 IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

USING STATUTORY LOGO FOR AUTHORISED SELLERS OF POISONS WAS A DEVICE FOR PUBLIC INTERESTS, HE SAID, BUT THE PURPOSE WOULD NEVER BE FULFILLED UNLESS THE GENERAL PUBLIC WERE EQUIPPED WITH BASIC MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE.

+IT IS NOT UNCOMMON THAT MANY PEOPLE STILL HAVE DIFFICULTY IN DISTINGUISHING LISTED' AND AUTHORISED SELLERS OF POISONS AS WELL AS 'PART 1' AND 'PART 11' POISONS ETC, DR CHIU SAID.

HE THEREFORE CALLED ON THE RELEVANT GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT TO ORGANISE HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAMMES TO ENHANCE THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE PUBLIC ON THE PROPER USE OF PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS.

DR CHIU ALSO SAID THAT PERFECT ORDINANCES WOULD NOT BE ANYTHING BUT COSMETICS IF AN EFFECTIVE MONITOR SYSTEM WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

DESCRIBING THE BILL AS A TIMELY MOVE TO TIGHTEN THE CONTROL OF SALE OF POISONS AND PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS, HE SAID IT WAS PARTICULARLY SIGNIFICANT AT A TIME WHEN AN INCREASING NUMBER OF THE POPULATION, FOR VARIOUS REASONS, TENDED TO UNDERTAKE SELF-MEDICATION FOR MINOR HEALTH PROBLEMS.

THE BILL, IF ENDORSED, WOULD PROHIBIT LISTED SELLERS OF POISONS FROM DISPENSING PRESCRIPTION AND DETER PEOPLE WITHOUT PROPER PHARMACOLOGICAL TRAINING TO DISPENSE, DR CHIU SAID.

AS TO THE PROVISION OF THE BILL WHICH EMPOWERED THE PHARMACY AND POSIONS BOARD TO REJECT APPLICATIONS FOR REGISTRATION, DR CHIU SAID THIS WOULD NOT ONLY ENABLE THE BOARD TO USE ITS DI SCRETION AND FLEXIBILITY IN SCREENING APPLICATIONS BUT ALSO ENABLE IT TO DISQUALIFY THOSE DE-REGISTERED SELLERS WHO RE-APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION UNDER A NEW NAME.

+FURTHERMORE. THE SUGGESTED AMENDMENT CONDITIONALLY EXEMPTING REGISTERED MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS FROM THE REQUIREMENT OF RECORDING THE SUPPLY AND DISPENSING OF MEDICINES IN A SEPARATE BOOK WILL BE WARMLY WELCOMED BY PRACTISING MEDICAL PERSONNEL BECAUSE IT ELIMINATES THE DUPLICATION OF EFFORTS IN KEEPING RECORDS,+ HE SAID.

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