XN000022-1988-06-29 — Page 19

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 1988

MORE POSITIVE ACTION ON UNDESIRABLE MEDICAL ADVERTISING

THE ADMINISTRATION INTENDS TO ADOPT A MORE POSITIVE APPROACH IN ENFORCING THE PROVISIONS OF THE UNDESIRABLE MEDICAL ADVERTISEMENTS ORDINANCE, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON ADOLF HSU, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THIS WOULD FOLLOW PASSAGE OF THE UNDESIRABLE MEDICAL ADVERTISEMENTS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1988, AND THE REMOVAL OF OBSTACLES

TO PROSECUTION, MR HSU SAID WHEN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL.

"CONSIDERATION WILL BE GIVEN TO WORKING OUT ARRANGEMENTS AMONGST THE RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS TO INITIATE PROSECUTION ACTIONS AGAINST THOSE WHICH MAY CONTRAVENE THE PROVISIONS, HE SAID.

"PENALTY FOR OFFENCES UNDER THE ORDINANCE WILL BE INCREASED TO $10,000 ON FIRST CONVICTION AND $25,000 ON SUBSEQUENT CONVICTIONS.

"THE INTENTION IS TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM BEING INDUCED BY SUCH ADVERTISEMENTS TO SEEK IMPROPER TREATMENT FROM UNQUALIFIED PERSONS OR TO RESORT TO WRONGFUL APPLICATION BY SELF-MEDICATION, WITH THE RESULT THAT THERE IS DELAY IN SEEKING PROPER TREATMENT, MAKING THE DISEASE MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO CURE.

"IN SERIOUS CASES THIS COULD CAUSE PERMANENT DISABILITY OR EVEN ENDANGER THE LIFE OF THE PATIENT.

MR HSU SAID THAT DURING THE CONSULTATION EXERCISE ON THE BILL, MERCHANTS DEALING IN CHINESE MEDICINES HAD ASKED WHETHER CERTAIN CHINESE TERMS WHICH THE IR MEMBERS HAD BEEN USING IN THEIR ADVERTISEMENT WOULD CONTRAVENE THE LAW.

THE ADMINISTRATION HAD GIVEN ITS OPINIONS FOR THE GENERAL GUIDANCE OF CHINESE MEDICINE DEALERS, POINTING OUT THAT MOST OF THEIR COMMONLY USED TERMS WERE ACCEPTABLE.

AND

"WHILE NO VETTING MACHINERY WILL BE SET UP TO SCREEN EACH EVERY ADVERTISEMENT ON CHINESE MEDICINE PRIOR ΤΟ ITS PUBLICATION, THE ADMINISTRATION WELCOMES ENQUIRIES FROM THE DEALERS CONCERNED REGARDING TERMINOLOGIES OF DISEASES GENERALLY AND WOULD

HAPPY ΤΟ PROVIDE THE NECESSARY GUIDANCE, HE SAID.

"

BE

ANY

OR

MR HSV EXPLAINED THAT UNDER THE ORDINANCE AT PRESENT, PUBLICATION OF ANY ADVERTISEMENT WAS PROHIBITED IF IT REPRESENTED MEDICINE, SURGICAL APPLIANCE OR TREATMENT, WHETHER DIRECTLY INDIRECTLY OR BY IMPLICATION, AS BEING EFFECTIVE FOR THE TREATMENT DISEASES LISTED IN THE SCHEDULE TO THE ORDINANCE.

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