The dispenser who gave out cough medicine tainted with excessive chloroform to 36 patients at a government clinic has quit, the Department of Health confirmed yesterday.
Assistant director Dr Chan Wai-man said the worker, who had been at the clinic for two months, 'was not serving there any more'. She declined to give details.
Dr Chan said briefings had been organised in all 87 clinics, reminding staff to take extra precautions preparing drugs.
'We used to focus on the giving of drugs at the counter but we are now placing more emphasis on preparation.' The move follows a blunder, discovered on March 12, at the Central Kowloon General Outpatient Clinic that saw 36 people get cough medicine with excessive amounts of chloroform, used as a preservative.
The staff member was a new graduate of the Chai Wan Technical College, the only institution offering a full-time dispensing diploma.
Dr Vivien Gam Wai-chu, senior lecturer of the pharmaceutical division at the college, said the training met professional requirements although getting the right proportion of chloroform was only practised once in the three-year course.
