In a step to make primary healthcare more accessible and affordable, health officials have introduced a new framework for community pharmacies and a centralised drug list, paving the way for a comprehensive Community Pharmacy Programme (CPP) set to launch next year.

The Primary Healthcare Commission on Thursday launched the Community Drug Formulary (CDF) mechanism and new Guidelines for Community Pharmacies, which are the foundational elements of the upcoming CPP.

The programme, expected to launch in phases in the fourth quarter of next year, aims to provide easier access to safe, affordable drugs and expert advice for everyday health needs.

According to Cheung Wai-lun, director of strategic purchasing office at the Health Bureau, the new CDF draws directly from the existing Hospital Authority (HA)'s formulary.

He said the HA will lead the bulk procurement of these medicines through a government partnership, a strategy designed to ensure the drugs are safe, effective and cheaper due to large-scale purchasing.

The CDF will cover a range of medicines, including preventative medications, chronic disease treatments and short-term therapies, which are split into three tiers: non-patented, patented or specific drugs and special categories.

The dispensing of CDF drugs will launch in the second half of 2026, which will allow patients in schemes like the Chronic Disease Co-Care Pilot to get prescription CDF drugs from family doctors or CPP pharmacies for a co-payment.

“Drug supply will be a very important factor to enable the patient to have a comprehensive service. We hope that through the community drug formulary, by its design and also the procurement process, we can provide the patients, especially chronic disease patients, an affordable cost for getting the supply of drugs,” Cheung said.

Concurrently, the Commissioner for Primary Healthcare Pang Fei-chau said new guidelines for community pharmacies establish clear rules to ensure the delivery of high-quality and consistent care.

These guidelines cover areas such as management and staff training, facility requirements, daily procedures and service scope, he said, noting that they will serve as the fundamental standard for the CPP.

In the long term, Pang said only registered pharmacies that have been vetted by the government and are confirmed to meet the service standards and quality assurance requirements outlined in the guidelines will be officially recognised as community pharmacies under the primary healthcare service network.