Concerns over China-made drugs soothed

All medications prescribed by public hospitals, regardless of their origin, have been imported in compliance with standard procedures to ensure they are safe and of high quality, says the Hospital Authority.

In response to reports the authority is using two types of drugs manufactured in the mainland, it said one of them - painkiller and fever-treatment paracetamol - was imported from the mainland due to high demand during the fifth wave that started in December.

"Hong Kong was in dire need of painkillers and anti-fever drugs containing Paracetamol during the fifth wave," its statement said.

"Under such urgent circumstances, the Hospital Authority had procured the corresponding medication - acetaminophen - through the SAR government from channels approved by mainland authorities."

Both paracetamol and acetaminophen refer to the same chemical substance in painkillers and anti-fever drugs sold by common brands Panadol and Tylenol.

During the peak of the fifth wave from February to March, Hong Kong recorded tens of thousands of infections a day and hospitals were overloaded, with most patients, including vulnerable groups such as children and seniors, forced to observe self-isolation at home.

People flocked to pharmacies and drugstores to buy painkillers and Chinese medicine, exhausting the city's supply of medicines containing paracetamol.

For the other drug, cefoxitin injection, which is commonly used to treat bacterial infection, the authority said the demand has risen recently.

The mainland drugs came to light when an online user posted this month that a friend was prescribed mainland-made painkillers and stomach medications after a regular consultation at Queen Mary Hospital.

He also posted a photo of several boxes of painkillers with traditional Chinese labels stating they are acetaminophen tablets on the packaging.

"Panadol will no longer be prescribed and they will switch to mainland drugs," he wrote.

His post sparked concerns on the quality of mainland drugs.

But the authority said: "When procuring and prescribing medications, the authority puts the drugs' quality, safety and patients' interests as top priorities."

It said the authority had followed guidelines of a fair and strict medication procurement mechanism from the World Health Organization, World Trade Organization and Department of Health, to purchase quality drugs that have been registered under local health authorities.

It cited commercial agreements and refused to disclose the quantity and price of the mainland drugs.

"In response to certain media carrying misleading reports allegedly accusing the authority for importing and using unauthorized medications, the authority expresses deep regret to such false claims."

jane.cheung@singtaonewscorp.com