The HKMA has long been supporting patients' choice in whether to obtain medicine in doctors' clinics or from outside dispensaries. It would not be appropriate to restrict patients to obtain medicine from dispensaries only. It must be stressed that the HKMA has never insisted patients to obtain medicine in doctors' clinics. However, the convenience of obtaining medicine from doctors' clinics are well aware of by members of the public. The sense of safety, confidence, and economic advantages, though distorted by some people, of obtaining medicine from doctors' clinics should be treasured by the general public.
To promote the patients' choice in where to obtain medicine, the HKMA has made several proposals to the Medical Council. The proposal includes: putting up notices in doctors' clinics to inform patients of their right to choose where to obtain medicine; to amend the professional code and make it a professional misconduct if a doctor refuse to entertain a patient's request for a prescription and have it filled at outside dispensaries.
However, one should not take the proposal as a move by the HKMA to support the separation of consultation and dispensing. Indeed, the HKMA wishes to reiterate its aim to protect patients' choice and wishes the public to treasure the importance of protecting their freedom of choice.