Patients will be able to pick up their medications at community pharmacies from next week, the Hospital Authority (HA) has announced. The HA launched a medication delivery service last year, allowing patients to receive their medications at home or at the workplace. But it will expand this service and allow patients to collect their medications at over 100 community pharmacies, under Mannings and Watsons, from September 10. William Chui, chief pharmacist with the HA, said it would provide one more option for patients, and they will be able to receive professional help as well. "We have the professional, the community pharmacists, provide counselling and also drug information to patients who want more information about their medication or drug treatment," he said. "So [it's] not only for the delivery of the drugs but also providing immediate service or professional service to the patient." Chui said the HA would look into expanding the scope to cover more pharmacies. He added that the HA also aims to encourage Hong Kong residents to make use of primary healthcare services to reduce the workload on public hospitals and clinics. "Pharmacists in the community provide information, and also professional advice on how to prevent disease, how to improve patients' health overall. I think this is a good start to let our patients make use of healthcare professionals in the community," he said.
