More mainlanders buying drugs in HK  

特效藥差近萬元 深圳口岸涌現赴港“帶藥族”(圖)

經深圳口岸赴港買藥的內地旅客近期越來越多，記者走訪調查發現，受到內地居民追捧的“港版”藥品有兩種，一是香港常備保健藥品，二是治療罕見病、腫瘤、癌癥等病特效藥。[查看全文]

(ECNS) -- The variety of medicines available in Hong Kong and huge price gap with the mainland have attracted an increasing number of mainlanders to buy medicines in Hong Kong, according to Ta Kung Pao.

The mainlanders are buying two categories of medicines: regular healthcare medicine and specific drugs for rare diseases, such as tumors or cancer.

Imported specific drugs have the biggest price gap. Herceptin for breast cancer is sold for about 15,200 yuan ($2,487) in Hong Kong's general pharmacies, but 24,500 yuan ($4,009) at Shenzhen's public hospitals.

Most imported specific drugs are not covered by insurance, which increases the mainland's demand for buying the drugs in Hong Kong to save money.

Xiao Lei, deputy director of the Chinese Organization for Rare Disorders (CORD), said fewer than 20 of 400 foreign drugs can be bought on the mainland.

Many patients suffering from rare diseases would pre-order the drugs from Hong Kong's pharmacies as they are not available on the mainland.

Yuan Bixiao, whose daughter was diagnosed with tuberous sclerosis, said her daughter needs to take Sabril, a drug produced overseas.

Yuan was once detained by mainland Customs for not declaring 61 boxes of Sabril bought in Hong Kong.