Hong Kong Poison Control Centre / The Clinical Toxicology Department / Hong Kong Poison Information Centre (HKPCC/ CTD/ HKPIC) provides round-the-clock poison information and poisoning-related clinical consultation service to health care professionals in Hong Kong since 2005. HKPCC is one of the two WHO-listed poison centres in China.
 
During 2024, the HKPCC managed around 5,000 consultation cases and reports.
 
New development in 2024/25:

• In order to strengthen and expand poison prevention and control, the HKPCC has established the Integrated Chinese-Western Medicine (ICWM) Treatment Safety Centre, the Drug of Abuse (DOA) Early Warning Office and the Antidote Coordination Centre (ACC).
• The ICWM Treatment Safety Centre adheres to evidence-based principles by conducting comprehensive literature searches and data integration on both Chinese and Western medicines. This includes toxicity assessments related to the cardiovascular system, liver, and kidneys as well as studies and reports on interactions between Chinese and Western medicines. An expert panel on the safe use of Chinese and Western medicines has been established to conduct risk assessments and develop safety guidelines for the combined use of these medicines, ensuring clinical medication safety.
• The DOA Early Warning Centre has been working closely with government departments such as the Security Bureau’s Narcotics Division and the Police Force to jointly combat the abuse of emerging drugs, while sharing relevant clinical toxicity information and intelligence. In response to the increasing severity of "etomidate” abuse, the Centre co-organized several seminars with frontline social workers and educators and participated in media briefings for “Anti- etomidate” campaigns, highlighting the physical impact of "etomidate” abuse.
• The ACC has been playing a major role in coordinating the storage and use of antidotes within the Hospital Authority, ensuring sufficient supplies are available for the timely treatment of poisoning patients.
• Per the request from the Poison Control branch of Chinese Preventive Medicine Association, HKPCC has co-organized the “Basic Clinical Toxicology Course” with toxicology branches of provincial medical associations across various provinces and cities in mainland since 2024. By offering professional and standardized toxicology training, the course aims to enhance the standard of clinical diagnosis and poisoning treatment in mainland. The training model, course materials, and workshop demonstration framework developed by HKPCC were introduced to mainland for the first time.

Other clinical services include:

• Onsite clinical toxicology service to poisoned patients in UCH
• Stocking and advice on the use of level III antidotes and prehospital activated charcoal
• 2 toxicology clinics providing specialist care to patients referred from all HA and private doctors

HKPCC/ CTD/ HKPIC is the accredited poison centre for training in clinical toxicology, which is a recognised medical specialty in Hong Kong since 2016. Four doctors currently working in poison centre hold the title of Fellow in Clinical Toxicology.