Hospital Authority Launches New Community Medication Collection Service Tomorrow

HA medication delivery service adds over 100 community collection points

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

The Hospital Authority (HA) will launch the new community collection service tomorrow (September 10) as an enhancement of the medication delivery service. Patients attending specialist out-patient clinics, general out-patient clinics, discharged from hospital and receiving accident and emergency services of all HA hospitals and clinics can choose to collect the HA-dispensed medications at more than 100 community collection points through the medication delivery service.

The HA partnered with large chain pharmacies to provide the new community collection service. Hospital or clinic patients can apply for medication delivery service via the HA Go mobile app and select to deliver their medications to designated addresses such as home or office, or choose community collection points for medication collection. When the medications are delivered to the pharmacy, patients will receive notification via HA Go and from the pharmacist of the community collection point. Patients have to collect their medications within three working days and show the medication collection QR code in the HA Go app for identity verification.

The pharmacists will ensure that the medications are kept under the required storage conditions to ensure medication safety. The Chief Pharmacist of the HA, Mr William Chui said, "When the HA-dispensed medications are delivered to the community collection points, pharmacists will help handle the medications to ensure proper storage conditions and arrangement. Pharmacists will check the medications and provide medication counselling, and answer any medication inquiries when patients collect their medications. Pharmacists will also follow up with the Pharmacy Department of the HA for any medication treatment matters when necessary."

A standard delivery fee of $65 per prescription will be charged for the medication delivery service, with no additional fee required by the partnered pharmacies. The medication delivery service is suitable for patients whose prescriptions have no newly prescribed medication that needs to be taken immediately and they have enough medications on hand that can last until the new medications are delivered to the community collection points. The service covers most medications, including refrigerated items, except for controlled medications classified as Dangerous Drugs under the laws of Hong Kong.

More than 21 000 patients have opted for the medication delivery service since the service launched in March last year. The HA will continue to optimise drug dispensing and collection service models, increase community collection points according to service need and explore collaboration with more pharmacies and pharmacists.

Source: AI-generated images

C&WDO receives report of loss of hirer data by facility management services contractor of Sai Ying Pun Community Complex

The Central and Western District Office (C&WDO) received a report of the loss of hirer data by a facility management services contractor today (September 16).

The C&WDO has engaged a facility management services contractor, Synergis Facility Management Limited (the Contractor), to assist in managing the Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall (the Community Hall) and handling the booking applications for use of the Community Hall and its facility from September 2022 to August 2025.

The Contractor reported to the C&WDO this morning that a staff member of the Contractor, who is responsible for handling the booking applications for use of the Community Hall and its facility, had lost a portable device (USB) during work on September 14. The device contains the name of organisation, date and time of the event, name and contact number of the contact person for 306 applicants. The data involved does not include any identity card number or other personal identifiers.

Upon receiving the report, the C&WDO promptly requested and accompanied the Contractor to report the incident to the Police and reported the matter to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data this afternoon. The C&WDO is contacting all the affected applicants to offer apologies and explain the incident. Meanwhile, a hotline (2852 3735) has been set up for persons affected to make enquiries. The C&WDO has also immediately suspended the Contractor from handling the booking applications for use of the Community Hall and its facility. The Home Affairs Department (HAD) has also informed the Property Management Services Authority to take appropriate follow-up action as the Contractor has failed to handle personal data properly as a licensed property management company.

The C&WDO sincerely apologises to the persons affected for any inconvenience caused and will follow up seriously to prevent reoccurrence of similar incidents . The C&WDO strongly condemns the Contractor concerned for the incident and has required the Contractor to submit a detailed report and take all necessary measures to prevent further leakage of the data involved. The HAD will not allow the Contractor to bid any other projects of the HAD until it has taken satisfactory measures.

Source: AI-generated images