Initiated and funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, with the School of Pharmacy at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) as partner institution, the five-year project “Jockey Club PHARM+ Community Medication Service Network” (the “Project”) organised the “Medication Safety Community Day” health promotional event  on 6-7 Sept at MCP Discovery (Metro City Plaza Phase 3). The event seeks to enhance medication literacy and self-management of health conditions by promoting the professional services of community pharmacists, thereby raising public health awareness in the community.

(from left) Mr. Horace Lit, Executive Manager, Charities (Health; Older Adults), The Hong Kong Jockey Club; Dr. Tony Ha, Acting Commissioner for Primary Healthcare, Primary Healthcare Commission, Health Bureau; and Prof. Enders Ng, Acting Dean, CUHK’s Faculty of Medicine, officiate at the Jockey Club PHARM+ Community Medication Service Network: Medication Safety Community Day’s kick-off ceremony.

Launched in 2024, the Jockey Club PHARM+ Community Medication Service Network supports eight community pharmacies operated by NGO partners across Hong Kong. This initiative provides the public with accessible and affordable community dispensing services. In addition to medication consultation, these pharmacies also provide management services for patients with chronic diseases and minor ailments, as well as wellness information to promote a healthy lifestyle and the safe use of medication. Furthermore, the Project enhances the role of pharmacists at the community level; through personalised, free medication consultation and management, it facilitates medication literacy and allows people to better manage their own health conditions. The Project’s community-based medication service network will form the first line of defence in disease management, helping to build a healthier community.

The kick-off ceremony for the Medication Safety Community Day was held on the first day (6 Sept) of the event in the presence of Dr. Tony Ha, Acting Commissioner for Primary Healthcare, Primary Healthcare Commission, Health Bureau; Mr. Horace Lit, Executive Manager, Charities (Health; Older Adults), The Hong Kong Jockey Club; and Professor Enders Ng, Acting Dean, CUHK’s Faculty of Medicine.
 

Dr. Tony Ha, Acting Commissioner for Primary Healthcare, Primary Healthcare Commission, Health Bureau, said: “The Jockey Club PHARM+ Community Medication Service Network’s objective mirrors the Hong Kong SAR Government’s strategy in recent years to instigate the development of primary healthcare services, with the two complementing each other impeccably. The government will roll out the Community Pharmacy Programme in phases by the fourth quarter of 2026 the earliest. Under this programme, community pharmacies will arrange appropriate medication dispensing for patients of Hospital Authority and for persons enrolled in primary healthcare programmes. They will also provide services such as medication consultation, counselling, and integration for individual patients or care homes. The programme aims to strengthen the professional role of community pharmacists within the primary healthcare team, enhance the public’s ability to self-manage their health, improve medication use among the general public, alleviate the burden on the public healthcare system, and foster the sustainable development of the primary healthcare system.”

Health & Older Adults is one of the priority funding areas of the Club’s Charities Trust. Mr. Horace Lit, Executive Manager, Charities (Health; Older Adults), The Hong Kong Jockey Club, said: “The Jockey Club PHARM+ Community Medication Service Network has established eight community pharmacies across multiple districts to provide accessible and affordable dispensing services, medication consultation, advice on chronic disease and minor ailment management, and promoting health literacy and safe use of medication. These community pharmacies also work closely with District Health Centres (DHC) and DHC Express to foster an effective synergy.”

Professor Enders Ng, Acting Dean of CUHK’s Faculty of Medicine, added that he hopes to participate in talent training through the programme to cultivate a group of community pharmacists and organize a series of public education activities, promoting knowledge about the correct use of medication knowledge among the public, while also raising public awareness of health. He said: "The public participation in pharmacist consultations to obtain professional medication advice is crucial for ensuring medication safety and avoiding drug interactions. At the same time, we provide health screening services to help everyone understand their health status and detect potential issues early. These activities recognise the importance of pharmacists, and practical health information and medication tips will help each resident manage their health better."

Free health talks led by local registered pharmacists have garnered significant community engagement. Participants are able to gain a deeper understanding of correct medication usage.

Registered pharmacists provide one-on-one medication consultations during the event, answering participants’ queries about medication.

The Community Day is packed with an array of activities, through which members of the public can gain wellness information, enabling them to find out more about how to use medication safely and manage their health.

Activities include a series of free health talks from Hong Kong registered pharmacists as speakers. With themes encompassing “How pharmacists could help with minor ailment dispensing?” and “Be smart, be safe: know your medicines”, the health talks help members of the public gain a solid grasp of wellness information, enhancing their self-management of medication and health conditions. Additionally, registered pharmacists are present to provide members of the public with free one-on-one medication consultation and answer their queries relevant to medication. Offering professional recommendations geared towards medication management for chronic diseases and common ailments, registered pharmacists ensure members of the public can obtain tailored guidance for medication. Basic health screenings are also available, including screening of hypertension, diabetes, physical fitness test and atrial fibrillation etc. Under the guidance of registered pharmacists, students from the School of Pharmacy at CUHK are taking the lead in disseminating the screening results and providing health recommendations, supporting members of the public in pre-emptively strengthening their health awareness. Through interactive game booths, participants can easily acquire basic medication knowledge and tips for leading a healthy lifestyle, empowering health consciousness at the community level.

Participants receive basic health screenings at the Medication Safety Community Day, encouraging participants to proactively monitor their health.

The Medication Safety Community Day features game booths that engage the public in a fun and interactive way, strengthening their awareness of health condition management.