Proposed Topic (Most preferred): :
Clinical Safety and Quality Service III (Projects aiming at quality service to patients and their carers)
Proposed Topic (Second preferred): :
Clinical Safety and Quality Service II (Projects aiming to enhance clinical safety and outcomes, clinical governance / risk management)
Authors (including presenting author) :
Yung TH, Lee BSC, Tse ML, Wong RSM
Affiliation :
Hong Kong Poison Control Centre
Introduction :
Poison prevention and control is a crucial area in protecting public from hazards of poisoning, which is defined as significant global public health problem by the World Health Organization (WHO). Under this context the preparedness and accessibility of antidotes are of great importance in particularly in life-threatening situations. In Hong Kong (HK), over 3,500 poisoning cases were managed in Hospital Authority (HA) annually, and among the 2001 cases which consulted Hong Kong Poison Information Centre in 2020, 328 patients (16.4%) were given antidotes. A mechanism for strategic stockpiling of antidotes for emergency supply is essential in safeguarding patients of HK.
Objectives :
To provide an overview of the antidote preparedness and responsiveness of HA towards poisoning risks in HK up till present and its future development in meeting the services needs.
Methodology :
The HA established a 3-level antidote list (HAAL) to include specific antidotes and recommended stock levels, with related mechanism on antidote mobilization supporting all HA hospitals for treatment of poisoned patients. Review is conducted regularly to keep HAAL up-to-date according to the clinical needs, and enhance accessibility of the antidotes as advised by committees involving multi-disciplinary expertise. For poisoning incidents, a 3-tier emergency response plan incorporating the coordination of antidotes stocking was also developed. Arrangement of antidote preparedness for major events taken place in HK has also been set up.
Result & Outcome :
Following the establishment of HAAL, the number of stockpiled antidotes has evolved from 41 to 57 (as of Jan 2024), encompassing a much wider variety of antidotes as compared to the 15 antidotes listed in the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines, for treatment of various poisoning involving drugs, chemicals, snakebites, toxic alkaloids of plants, etc. Urgent procurement of antidotes was expedited in line with mechanisms developed for major poisoning threats (e.g. cluster of arsenic poisoning, incident of lead in drinking water) to ensure antidotes availabilities and preparedness. Antidotes supply has also been arranged for major events (e.g. Olympics equestrian competition) in HK. Moreover, with the development of antidote stockpile and toxicology services network, HA has received requests for antidote assistance from local private hospitals and neighboring cities. To further strengthen HA’s antidote preparedness and responsiveness, an Antidote Coordination Centre will be launched under the newly established Hong Kong Poison Control Centre in 2024/25.
