XN000022-1995-07-19 — Page 116

- 91.

5

Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam

1 July 1995

6

Tuen Mun Polyclinic, Tuen Mun

14 August 1995

At present, there are two counselling centres which provide services to psychotropic substance abusers, namely PS33 in Tsim Sha Tsui, run by the Hong Kong Christian Service, and Direction in Wan Chai, operated by the Society for the Aid and Rehabilitation of Drug Abusers. The Government is committed to setting up a similar counselling centre in the New Territories. There is, and will continue to be, close co-operation between the Substance Abuse Clinics and the counselling centres, so that their effectiveness can be enhanced.

End/Wednesday, July 19, 1995

Dispensing of medicines by private doctors

Following is a question by Dr the Hon Conrad Lam and a written reply by the acting Secretary of Health and Welfare, Mrs Shelley Lau, in the Legislative council today (Wednesday):

Question:

As the private medical practitioners in the territory at present dispense medicines directly to patients in addition to giving diagnosis, will the Government inform this Council of the following:

(a)

(b)

(c)

of the reason for adopting such a practice, and how long this practice has been followed;

which advanced countries in Europe and America are still adopting such a practice; and

whether the Government will consider training up a sufficient number of pharmacists capable of providing professional dispensing service to patients so as to improve dispensing service to meet the needs of the community; if so, when such training will be provided; if not, why not?