Replies to LegCo questions

LCQ13: Counselling service by community pharmacists

        Following is a question by the Hon Michael Mak and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong, in the Legislative Council today (May 5):

 

Question:

 

        It has been reported that the Hospital Authority (HA) plans to launch the Patients Referral Scheme on Drug Compliance and Counselling Service this July.  Registered pharmacists from the participating pharmacies will, at no charge, follow up the drug administration of patients of the specialist out-patient clinics at public hospitals who suffer from cardiovascular, diabetes mellitus or asthmatic diseases.  In this connection, will the Government inform this Council whether it knows:

 

(a)    the reasons for HA including only the three types of diseases in the Scheme;

 

(b)    what impact HA expects the Scheme will have on the waiting time of specialist out-patient service; and

 

(c)    if HA will consider including other chronic diseases in the Scheme?

 

Reply:

 

(a)    The counselling service by community pharmacists is a pilot scheme of the Hospital Authority (HA) to be launched in partnership with the private sector to provide better service to patients. The three diseases were chosen because they constitute a heavy burden in terms of patient morbidity and mortality in Hong Kong.

 

(b)    The objective of the scheme is to improve the quality of care to patients, rather than to reduce the waiting time at Specialist Outpatient Clinics (SOPCs), although better compliance with the doctor's instructions for taking drugs by patients should help reduce unnecessary re-attendances and hospital admissions. 

 

(c)    The HA will review the scheme and assess its impact on patients by monitoring the progress of implementation and conducting surveys among patients, participating pharmacists and doctors. Continuation of the scheme and extension to other patient groups will depend on a number of factors, including the patients' willingness to participate in the scheme, continuous support from pharmacists in the private sector and the impact of the scheme on patient outcome.

 

Ends/Wednesday, May 5, 2004

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