The Hospital Authority of Hong Kong announced Thursday that it will implement seven measures to ensure the safety and quality of medicine it prescribes to patients.

The authority's Chairman Anthony Wu said that the introduction of microbiology testing will be a pre-requisite to drug procurement. Manufacturers will need to arrange such tests and provide corresponding certificates.

The authority will increase its own sampling of drugs and will add microbiology testing to its own control system.

Drug suppliers will be asked to provide standard information when they deliver the drugs so the authority can conduct checks more effectively.

The authority will work with the Department of Health to improve the ease of access to key registration details. The authority will also consider introducing multi-source suppliers to high-volume and high-risk drugs.

IT systems for pharmacies will be enhanced and a drug quality assurance office will be formed, said the authority.

(Xinhua News Agency March 27, 2009)