10 Critical Must-Knows for the Community Pharmacy (Community) Programme
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Registration and Compliance | Must be a registered premises under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance with a valid Certificate of Registration. Must adhere to all legal and regulatory requirements, including the Code of Practice for Authorized Sellers of Poisons. |
| Service Scope | Provide individualized healthcare services to enrolled Programme Patients, including dispensing prescriptions/refills from Hospital Authority (HA) or Primary Care Directory/Register doctors. Offer Standard (e.g., smoking cessation, chronic disease management) and Non-standard Value-added Services. |
| Service Volume | Capacity to dispense an estimated 225,000 Chargeable Units (one Drug Entity for up to 4 weeks) over 3 years. Dispensing durations typically not exceeding 8 weeks per prescription or refill. |
| Service Capability | Option to provide additional service capacity beyond the estimated 225,000 Chargeable Units for 3 years. Contractor must specify willingness and extent of additional capacity if applicable. |
| Continuous Care | Ensure uninterrupted medication supply and continuous care. Dispense clinically appropriate medications with reconciliation via the Electronic Health Record Sharing System (eHRSS). Book appointments for medication collection and services. |
| Drug Management | Order Programme Drugs from HA-contracted suppliers, manage and control these drugs, and be accountable for discrepancies (e.g., damaged, lost, or expired drugs). Ownership transferred upon delivery. |
| Financial Responsibility | Calculate and collect Co-Payment from patients, bear liability for non-payment or shortfalls, and pay for remaining Programme Drugs upon program exit based on Government IT Platform records. |
| Facility Standards | Maintain a clean, orderly pharmacy with a private counseling area or room, controlled temperature/humidity, pharmaceutical-grade refrigerators (2°C–8°C), and adequate equipment (e.g., balance, tablet counter). |
| Staffing | Deploy a Project Leader (Registered Medical Practitioner or Pharmacist with 5+ years’ supervisory experience) and a Lead Pharmacist (Registered Pharmacist with 5+ years’ post-registration experience) per pharmacy. At least one Community Pharmacist present during service hours. |
| Insurance and Quality | Maintain Public Liability Insurance (HK$10M per claim) and Professional Indemnity Insurance (HK$30M per 12-month period). Implement robust quality assurance, performance monitoring, and contingency plans for risk management. |
Data Source : HKSAR Health Bureau