HA Investigates Sale of Public Hospital Patient Drugs Online

Hospital Authority concerned about incident of suspected sale of public hospital patient drugs on online shopping platform

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

The spokesperson for the Hospital Authority (HA) made the following statement today (August 13) regarding a suspected incident of selling public hospital patient drugs on an online shopping platform:

The HA is very concerned about a suspected incident of selling public hospital patient drugs on an online shopping platform. The HA has initiated an investigation. If any illegal activity is found to be involved, the HA will pursue the matter seriously and report it to law enforcement agencies for further investigation.

The HA traced the source of the drug based on the online pictures and believed that the drug was prescribed by a doctor upon the discharge of a patient who was admitted to Hong Kong Buddhist Hospital in 2023. The HA has contacted the patient concerned to follow up on the incident.

The HA reminds members of the public that anyone who attempts to obtain drugs through improper means may be breaking the law. The spokesperson for the HA said, "The public should not buy drugs from unknown sources. Apart from the possibility of violating the law, the quality of the drugs is not guaranteed and may have adverse health effects."

The spokesperson said that the HA has strict procedures to handle and dispose of unused drugs, including those that have expired or have not been collected by patients, to prevent the relevant drugs from being used inappropriately. The drugs will be properly managed, and the storage records and distribution procedures are clear and certain. If anyone deliberately resells patients' drugs for profit, the HA will condemn such activities and take corresponding follow-up actions. The HA urges merchants selling drugs not to sell drugs from unknown sources. If there is any doubt about the source of drugs, they should report to relevant law enforcement and regulatory authorities.

The HA has always attached great importance to drug prescription arrangements and will continue to review and optimise relevant arrangements, including charging arrangements, to achieve the goals of reducing waste and rationalisation of resources.

Source: AI-generated images

Korean restaurant brand Samsic establishes foothold in Hong Kong

​Invest Hong Kong announced today (April 3) that Korean restaurant brand Samsic has opened its first outlet in Hong Kong, offering authentic Korean cuisine to customers in the city.

Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion Mr Arnold Lau said, "Korean food and pop culture are popular in Hong Kong and there is a strong Korean community in the city. Together with its worldwide reputation as a culinary capital in Asia, Hong Kong is an ideal place for Samsic to expand in the region. I wish it every success and beyond."

He added, "Further to the visit by our Director-General of Investment Promotion, Ms Alpha Lau, to Seoul and a delegation of Korean food and beverage companies visiting Hong Kong to explore business opportunities last month, we are delighted to see the positive outcome from our investment promotion efforts."

The Executive Director of BMJ Samsik HK Limited, Mr Chan Hyung Hwang, said, "Hong Kong has a sophisticated customer base with high purchasing power. Its status as a global trading hub and friendly business environment also appeals to us to set up our presence in the city."

Mr Chan added, "We target to establish a strong presence in Hong Kong and plan to open more than 10 Samsic Korean Soup Restaurants in key areas throughout Hong Kong, including Tsim Sha Tsui and Wan Chai. Hong Kong is an international city with a dynamic culture. We aim to take the lead in promoting traditional Korean cuisine globally via the city."

Located on Shelley Street in Central, the new restaurant offers a variety of authentic Korean dishes, including pork bone soup, blood sausage soup rice, stone pot rice, braised pork bone and hangover soup. Its dishes originate from a region in Korea called Byeongcheon-myeon, which is famous for the traditional Korean dish called black pudding soup, a favourite among many Koreans.

For a copy of the photos, please visit www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/albums/72177720324814422.

Korean restaurant brand Samsic establishes foothold in Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Korean restaurant brand Samsic establishes foothold in Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases