Due to changes in epidemic prevention and control in the Mainland, many Hong Kong citizens have recently purchased large quantities of antipyretic and analgesic drugs, intending to send them to relatives and friends in the Mainland. As a result, some drugs are out of stock, Watson's and other pharmacies have begun to implement purchase restrictions. Hong Kong’s Secretary for Medical and Health Lu Chongmao said yesterday that the Hong Kong government will ensure the supply of drugs, and the Hospital Authority also has sufficient stocks to meet needs. It is recommended that the public does not need to hoard too many drugs, nor should they overreact and buy too many drugs to cause a cash flow phenomenon.
The number of people in Hong Kong purchasing painkilling and antipyretic drugs has been increasing recently. An employee of a pharmacy in Sham Shui Po said yesterday that since last week, the number of customers buying cold and cold medicines and " Lianhua Qingwen Capsules " has continued to increase, and there has been a shortage of some medicines. Some pharmacies have temporarily imposed purchase restrictions, limiting each person to a maximum of three to five boxes of medicines such as Piliton. The person in charge of the pharmacy said that this is because the demand for related treatment drugs has increased significantly due to the changes in epidemic prevention and control in the mainland. Some people in the mainland have purchased and forwarded them through relatives and friends in Hong Kong. However, he believes that Hong Kong’s drug supply is unable to cope with the huge demand in the mainland market.
The Hong Kong and Kowloon Pharmacy General Chamber of Commerce expects that the normal supply of related drugs will resume in one or two weeks. Liu Aiguo, vice president of the Hong Kong and Kowloon Pharmacy General Chamber of Commerce, said yesterday that more people have recently purchased large quantities of painkillers and antipyretics, which are probably brought back or sent back to the mainland. As a result, most pharmacies in Hong Kong are out of stock. It is estimated that supply will be restored in a week or two.
Picture: Orange News
Scan cold medicines and send them to the mainland
Some pharmacy staff said that recently, customers have bought 20 or 30 boxes of Predator at a time and sent them to relatives and friends in the mainland, causing a shortage of supply in pharmacies. In addition, some pharmacies said that because they were out of stock, they had to dismantle the boxed Pills and sell them in bulk.
Leung Hee, a member of the Legislative Council who is also the health affairs spokesperson of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong, said that the mainland has relaxed prevention and control measures, and mainland citizens have begun to prepare medicines. Some Hong Kong people buy medicines for their relatives and friends in the mainland, which has caused some pharmacies to be out of stock. He also noticed that some pharmacies have started to increase prices since last week, and the price of Bili Pain has increased from more than 30 yuan to more than 70 Hong Kong dollars. Lianhua Qingwen Capsules have also seen price increases and shortages.
Liang Xi said that according to relevant customs regulations, the procedures for sending medicines to the mainland are strict. Regular medicines such as those for pain management cannot be sent to the mainland. However, cross-border transport drivers and Hong Kong people may take them to the mainland in person. With the Lunar New Year approaching, more people will buy medicines to take to the mainland.
The Hong Kong Health Bureau stated that the Department of Health has requested relevant pharmaceutical manufacturers and wholesalers, as well as relevant chambers of commerce to provide sufficient supply of paracetamol products to Hong Kong. Local pharmaceutical manufacturers and wholesalers stated that overall, the manufacturing and supply of paracetamol products are sufficient. The Bureau stated that the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority currently have sufficient quantities of paracetamol for use by members of the public who are quarantined at home or seeking treatment in public hospitals.
Picture: Hong Kong Government Information Department
Monitoring the operation of "Safe Travel" and making timely adjustments
In addition, there are recent opinions from society that hope the government will cancel "Safe Travel" and "Vaccine Pass" "Lo Chung-moo, Director of the Medical and Health Bureau of Hong Kong, reiterated that "Safe Travel" can track the source of infection and close contacts when it is initially implemented. The Hong Kong government will continue to monitor its operation and make timely adjustments. It is believed that with the changes in the virus, the improvement of Hong Kong's immune barrier, and the increase in vaccination rates, the role of "Safe Travel" will also be adjusted with changes in epidemic prevention and control policies.
However, he emphasized that the epidemic may still reappear. Even if the current tracking function of "Safe Travel" is reduced, its role will be enhanced if new variants of viruses and new infectious diseases appear in the future, so the application will continue to be maintained for now.
(Editor Yang Bingxin)
This article is a new media article in Hong Kong's " Economic Herald".
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