ENG-2006 — Page 217

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collaboration with NGOs and organising Tai Chi classes for elders with over 100 community organisations. To raise public awareness and understanding of hypertension and to encourage regular blood pressure measurement among citizens, the Hospital Authority also collaborated with private practitioners and community pharmacies to implement a hypertension awareness programme.

Health Regulatory Activities

Healthcare Professionals

Under existing legislation, 12 types of healthcare professionals are required to be registered with their respective boards or councils before they are allowed to practise in Hong Kong. As at December 31, 2006, the professionals registered with their respective boards and councils numbered: 11 739 doctors, 1976 dentists, 5 336 Chinese medicine practitioners, 36 444 nurses (including registered and enrolled nurses), 4 648 midwives, 1 649 pharmacists, 90 chiropractors, 2 034 physiotherapists, 1 225 occupational therapists, 2 584 medical laboratory technologists, 1 925 optometrists and 1 605 radiographers.

To become a registered Chinese medicine practitioner (CMP) qualified for practice in Hong Kong, a person must have satisfactorily completed an approved undergraduate degree course of training in Chinese medicine practice or its equivalent, and have passed a licensing examination. As a transitional arrangement for the registration of CMPs, persons who were practising Chinese medicine in Hong Kong on January 3, 2000 were eligible to become listed CMPs. Depending on their practising experience and academic qualification, listed CMPs could become registered through direct registration, passing the Registration Assessment or passing the licensing examination. The Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong conducted Part I and Part II of the 2006 Chinese Medicine Practitioners Licensing Examination in June and August respectively. By year-end, 5 336 and 2 897 Chinese medicine practitioners were registered (including 68 Chinese medicine practitioners with limited registration) and listed respectively with the Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong.

Western Medicines

The regulation of Western medicines in Hong Kong is stipulated under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance. Acting on the authority of the Pharmacy and Poisons Board, the Department of Health registers and approves the marketing of pharmaceutical products, issues licences to drug manufacturers, importers, wholesalers and retailers, and takes action against illegal sale of controlled drugs in collaboration with the Hong Kong Police Force. Legislative controls are also enforced on poisons, antibiotics and dangerous drugs.

During 2006, 3 873 applications for registration of pharmaceutical products were approved. At year-end, there were 19 940 pharmaceutical products registered in Hong Kong.