Press Releases

SFH on drug incidents and loss of USB (English portion)

Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, at a stand-up media session at the Legislative Council Building today (March 25):

Reporter: (an increase of $1.5 million)

Secretary for Food and Health: First of all, what I have told the members is actually in the Budget. It has already earmarked $1.5 million for the Director of Health for consultation exercise to look at the regulation of drugs. This was already in the Budget before the recent incidents came out. So, with the recent incidents, we have to review whether there is extra work that needs to be done in the short term or medium term. As a short-term exercise, if the department requires additional staff, as the Director (of Health) has said that there will be employment of 10 extra pharmacists, then, of course, we have to make sure that he has the resources to carry out his work.

Reporter: (Loss of USB)

Secretary for Food and Health: Regarding the USB, we feel actually worried about this incident because the Hospital Authority has already had various strict guidelines regarding handling of patients' data within the clinical management system. I am sure the Hospital Authority would take this matter seriously.

Reporter: Will you also set up a review committee to look into the data loss?

Secretary for Food and Health: I think each government department and subvented departments like the Hospital Authority have their own mechanism of ensuring the protection of data privacy. So, I think it is up to the Hospital Authority to review whether they need to further strengthen the guidelines and also the measures they are taking right now.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)



Ends/Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Issued at HKT 15:20

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