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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
Regarding the drug supply to public hospitals by EuroPharm, the Hospital Authority spokesman announced the following arrangement today (March 9):
In line with the initial findings of the Department of Health, HA will implement the following measures with immediate effect:
1. Stop prescription of the drugs supplied by EuroPharm if there are alternative supplies.
2. Hospitals will contact the high risk patients again, who are immuno-compromised leukaemia and lymphoma patients, to explain the situation and reassure that all drugs supplied by EuroPharm will not be used on them.
The drug replacement service for patients under medication treatment of Allopurinol 100mg started yesterday (March 8) will last for two weeks. The operating hours is from 9 am to 7 pm on weekdays in the subsequent two weeks. Patients concerned are required to bring along their Identity Card or a copy of the ID card and the drug bag labeling "ALLOPURINOL TABLET 100MG" to the pharmacies of 15 designated public hospitals for replacement. The replacement does not require any prior booking or medical consultation. Depending on clinical needs, concerned patients will be dispensed with the replaced dosage of at least 10 days to three weeks (ranging from 21 to 30 tablets).
Up to 7:00 pm today (March 9), HA has already replaced the drug for a total of 10,363 patients. The arrangement was smooth and orderly.
The 15 designated public hospitals for drug replacement are as below:
Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital
Caritas Medical Centre
Kwong Wah Hospital
North District Hospital
Our Lady of Maryknoll Hospital
Princess Margaret Hospital
Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital
Prince of Wales Hospital
Pok Oi Hospital
Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Queen Mary Hospital
Tseung Kwan O Hospital
Tuen Mun Hospital
United Christian Hospital
Yan Chai Hospital
Ends/Monday, March 9, 2009
Issued at HKT 21:01
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