Avoidance of medicine wastage in private clinics in Hong Kong : practitioners’ perspectives

Abstract

Hong Kong with its well-established healthcare and medicine system and professional health services is one of the renowned healthiest places in the world. In fact, Hong Kong's healthcare system is running on a dual -track basis comprising public and private sectors. This study intends to explore medicine waste management and sustainability. First, we examine the existing phenomenon of Hong Kong medicine waste. Also, we discuss the causes of medical waste from a private clinic doctors' perspective. In addition, we identify possible policies and recommendations to minimize the medicine wastage in private clinic in Hong Kong as well as improve the healthcare supply chain practices. Qualitative research with in-depth interviews of doctors and medical practitioners have been carried out to gather their views and opinion of medication wastage, including the current medicine waste situation and the means of handling the expired medicines. Also, the study analyzes the centralized procurement platform effectiveness and suggests some possible policies for government to adopt. Interviewees mentioned that medication waste has occurred over decades. Medicine wastages are not only financial burdens, but also social burdens. If the medication waste problem cannot be alleviated, it will affect the population health and environment in the long run. An all-rounded healthcare supply chain with efficient logistics operations would help the government to collect excess medicines from private clinics and redistribute to some Non-Government Organizations (NGOs). In fact, all parties including manufacturers, distributors, prescribers, and patients have the responsibilities to maintain and implement suitable policies to prevent bulk medicine waste. This research study provides the foundation of medicine wastage in private clinics in Hong Kong. Future research can investigate the medicine wastage in other aspects as well as conso lidate the literatures in both industrial and public perspectives.