This is absolutely illegal. In Hong Kong, all Part I poisons, particularly prescription medicines, must be sold to the patient or their representative in a registered pharmacy by a registered pharmacist or a pharmacist intern under their supervision, on the basis of a valid prescription issued by a registered medical practitioner in Hong Kong. Any sale without a prescription through social media, instant messaging software or a website, or by post or cross-border purchasing, bypasses this fundamental safety control mechanism and is unequivocally illegal. Sellers and organisers will face criminal prosecution.
HONG KONG DRUG LICENSING
I have seen people on social media selling prescription medicines supposedly “legitimately sourced from Hong Kong pharmacies”. Is this legal?
A complete explanation of the regulatory basis, Drew Tang’s recommendations and risk alerts. The original material dates from 2025; read it alongside the latest official requirements.
Original guide, 2025 edition: These FAQs are provided for topic-based reference and have not all been individually checked against current rules. Please confirm fees, personnel, renewal, changes and product requirements against the professional in-depth guide for the relevant licence type and the official requirements in force at the time.
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