The Department of Health today said that only Paxlovid and Molnupiravir, supplied by Pfizer Corporation HK Ltd and Merck Sharp & Dohme (Asia) Ltd, are authorised by Hong Kong authorities as oral drugs for COVID-19 treatment in the city.

In response to media enquiries, the department said these two types of COVID-19 oral drugs could only be supplied to healthcare institutions and doctors in public and private sectors.

Patients could only be prescribed the relevant drugs by registered medical practitioners when needed, and drug retail outlets cannot procure the relevant oral drugs from suppliers nor sell them to the public, it added.

Having considered factors such as a patient’s suitability, relevant contraindications and possible side effects of using the two registered oral drugs, the Pharmacy & Poisons Board of Hong Kong has imposed the aforesaid restriction to the registration conditions.

These oral antiviral drugs belong to Part 1 Third Schedule poisons under the Pharmacy & Poisons Ordinance.

Illegal possession and sale of Part 1 Third Schedule poisons without a doctor's prescription, and illegal possession and sale of unregistered pharmaceutical products are criminal offences. The maximum penalty for each of these offences is a fine of $100,000 and two years' imprisonment, the department said.

Mechanisms are in place to monitor the sale of pharmaceutical products in the market, and intelligence will be collected through various channels for monitoring purposes, it added.

In light of relevant media reports on the sale of COVID-19 oral drugs at drugstores, the Department of Health has stepped up regulatory measures and inspections.

When suspected illegal sales or possession of unregistered pharmaceutical products is detected, the department may carry out investigations and conduct joint operations with other law enforcement agencies, and any irregularities found will be dealt with in accordance with the law.

People are advised not to buy or use products of dubious composition or from unknown sources as the safety, quality and efficacy of unregistered pharmaceutical products are not guaranteed, the department said.