Hospital Authority launches new medication delivery service
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A new medication delivery service at specialist outpatient clinics (SOPCs) of Queen Mary Hospital and Tseung Kwan O Hospital will be launched next Monday (May 15). With this new service, patients can have their medications directly delivered to their homes or designated addresses in Hong Kong to save time on collecting medications.
The Chief Pharmacist of the Hospital Authority (HA), Dr Benjamin Lee, said that the new service offers patients a choice of convenience for medication collection. "The medication delivery arrangements for COVID-19 patients receiving teleconsultation service during the epidemic has provided valuable experience for developing the HA medication delivery service. Patients can now stay at home for the delivery of drugs without waiting at hospital pharmacies."
In the first phase, patients 18 years old or above and registered as full members of the HA's one-stop mobile app "HA Go" can choose to arrange medication delivery after their consultation at SOPCs. Patients can opt for the medication delivery service if they have enough drugs on hand before their drugs are delivered, and no newly prescribed drugs are to be started immediately. Patients can arrange for their medications to be delivered to local designated addresses, including outlying islands, through the "HA Go" app. A standard delivery fee of $65 per prescription will be charged, regardless of the type of drugs, quantity and delivery location. The service covers most medications, including refrigerated items, except for controlled medications classified as Dangerous Drugs. In general, medications could be delivered on the next day if the arrangement is confirmed before 3pm on the consultation day.
The HA emphasised that the new service aims at enhancing the experience of patients. The HA has stringent requirements on the storage and temperature control of drugs by the logistics service provider to ensure the quality and safety of the medications. Patients are required to show a drug collection QR code in the "HA Go" app as an identity verification on receipt of their medications to ensure that the medications are safely delivered.
Dr Lee added that the tele-pharmacy service would also be provided to patients who opt for the service. Patients can choose the "Pharmacist Medication Counselling Service" in the "HA Go" app when arranging the delivery service. HA pharmacists will contact patients via teleconsultation after the medications are delivered and provide medication counselling to ensure proper medication use.
The new medication delivery service will be extended to other SOPCs of the Hong Kong West Cluster and Kowloon East Cluster in June, and will gradually be rolled out to all SOPCs of other clusters by the end of this year.
Ends/Friday, May 12, 2023
Issued at HKT 15:37
Issued at HKT 15:37
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