ENG-2014 — Page 192

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Health

enrolled nurses), 4,669 midwives, 2,390 pharmacists, 192 chiropractors, 2,624 physiotherapists, 1,677 occupational therapists, 3,228 medical laboratory technologists, 2,140 optometrists, 2,042 radiographers and 387 dental hygienists were registered in Hong Kong.

Western Medicines

Western medicines in Hong Kong are regulated under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance. Acting on the authority of the Pharmacy and Poisons Board, the DH evaluates and approves applications for the registration of pharmaceutical products, issues licences to drug manufacturers, importers and exporters, wholesalers and retailers, and takes action against the illegal sale of controlled drugs. The DH also enforces regulatory controls on poisons, antibiotics and dangerous drugs for medicinal use.

In 2014, the Pharmacy and Poisons Board approved 882 applications for registration of pharmaceutical products and as at year-end 19,209 pharmaceutical products were registered in Hong Kong.

In 2009, a government committee's report on the regulation of pharmaceutical products put forward 75 recommendations. Various recommendations relating to the DH have been implemented, including increasing the requirement for microbiological monitoring in the process of drug manufacturing by local drug manufacturers, stepping up inspections of local drug traders, providing additional information on the type of sales restriction (eg prescription only medicine) for each registered pharmaceutical product and providing updated information on the safe use of drugs on the website of the DH's Drug Office. The DH is following up with the implementation of the remaining recommendations, including those that involve legislative amendments.

Chinese Medicines

Chinese medicines are regulated under the Chinese Medicine Ordinance, which requires any person engaged in the retail or wholesale of Chinese herbal medicines or the manufacture or wholesale of proprietary Chinese medicines to obtain a licence. Licensed manufacturers may apply for a Certificate for Manufacturer, certifying that they follow the requirements of Good Manufacturing Practice in the manufacture and quality control of proprietary Chinese medicines. The Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong (CMCHK) is the statutory body responsible for devising and implementing regulatory measures for Chinese medicines. All proprietary Chinese medicines must be registered before they can be sold, imported or possessed in Hong Kong. As a transitional arrangement, proprietary Chinese medicines manufactured or on sale on 1 March 1999 are eligible for a transitional registration status upon submission of acceptable basic test reports. By the end of 2014, there were 6,775 licensed Chinese medicines traders (including 12 holding Certificate for Manufacturer), and 8,568 proprietary Chinese medicines had obtained transitional registration status, and 440 proprietary Chinese medicines had been issued with 'Certificate of registration of proprietary Chinese medicine'

Registered products must have the relevant registration number affixed and their labels and package inserts should also comply with the relevant statutory requirements.

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