A foreign domestic helper previously gave birth to a stillborn baby at her employer's home, and it was later discovered that she had taken abortion pills. The police followed the trail and uncovered an underground abortion pill ring operated by foreign domestic helpers. An investigation by Wen Wei Po found that these underground rings sell a prescription-controlled drug called "CYTOTEC," which is originally used to treat gastric ulcers. However, due to its side effect of stimulating the contraction of smooth muscles such as the uterus, it is being used as an abortion pill.
As a prescription drug, registered pharmacies are required to sell it only after the patient presents a doctor's prescription. However, a Wen Wei Po reporter recently successfully purchased the drug at a mall in Sha Tin without a prescription. Some pharmacies even violated regulations by breaking the packaging and selling it individually at HK$15 per pill. It is reported that some foreign domestic helpers are bulk-ordering the drug from places like Taiwan or the Philippines and then transporting it to Hong Kong for distribution.
Apart from the underground market, the reporter also found that "CYTOTEC" is being sold unregulated in local pharmacies. Reporters recently visited multiple pharmacies in a neighborhood mall in Shek Mun, Sha Tin, for an undercover test. Posing as customers, reporters asked staff if "CYTOTEC" was available for sale. They found that staff at multiple pharmacies did not request a prescription and immediately went into the dispensing area to retrieve a box labeled "CYTOTEC." The packaging indicated it contained 100 pills and included a Hong Kong drug registration label.
Selling near-expiry stock, offering discounts for membership registration
One staff member promptly quoted a price: "HK$1,100 per box." After the reporter hesitated for a moment and attempted to bargain, saying, "My friend bought it for just over HK$600 earlier," the staff member looked embarrassed and said, "How could it be that cheap?" Seeing the reporter unmoved and even about to leave, the staff member quickly changed their tone: "Well, register as a member, and you can buy it for HK$700."
The staff member then asked for the reporter's mobile phone number to register as a member. However, confusingly, there was no indication of a membership system in the store. During this time, the reporter noticed that the "CYTOTEC" box showed an expiry date of December this year, meaning it was a near-expiry product. It is unknown whether this was why the staff member was willing to lower the price to make the sale. The reporter refused to provide personal information and left.
Subsequently, the reporter went to another pharmacy and similarly handed a note with the word "CYTOTEC" written on it to a staff member. After taking the note, a staff member first looked up and down at the reporter's abdomen, then said, "We have stock, but it's a 1,000-pill pack. Do you want it?" The staff member explained that the 100-pill box was an old version and "is no longer popular." When the reporter hesitated, the staff member suddenly changed their mind and said the 1,000-pill pack could be sold "loose," with the same efficacy as the 100-pill pack. After saying this, the staff member suggested the reporter could first buy 10 pills to try, priced at HK$15 each.
"Many places won't dispense it; we're the ones dispensing it for you"
After the reporter agreed, the staff member quickly went into the dispensing room and returned about five minutes later with a transparent medicine bag labeled "CYTOTEC." The staff member instructed the reporter to take one pill daily and specifically reminded: "If there are no issues after taking it, next time you can bring this medicine bag to get a refill. When we see the bag, we'll dispense the medicine for you. Otherwise, you need a doctor's prescription to get it dispensed. Many places won't dispense it; we're the ones dispensing it for you!"
According to information, "CYTOTEC" is a prescription drug that requires a doctor's prescription for purchase. However, the undercover investigation found that some pharmacies not only failed to ask customers for a prescription but even offered membership discounts and sold the drug loose, completely disregarding regulations. More worryingly, staff did not inquire in detail about the reporter's health condition or purpose for using the drug during the sales process, showing disregard for the risks of drug abuse.
The investigation found that the main ingredient of "CYTOTEC" is Misoprostol, originally used to treat gastric ulcers. However, if used for abortion, it should be done under professional medical supervision. Self-administration may lead to uterine rupture, heavy bleeding, and even life-threatening situations. Additionally, improper dosage or incomplete placental expulsion may lead to severe infections.
Expert: "Too outrageous!"
Pharmacies, in their pursuit of business, openly sold "CYTOTEC" without a doctor's prescription. Sunny Luk, President of the Hong Kong Doctors Union, condemned this as "utterly outrageous." He believes this situation not only violates medical regulations but also poses serious threats to the health of those taking the drug. He urged the government to strengthen supervision of pharmacies and the circulation of illegal drugs, and to promote public health education to prevent the abuse of abortion pills.
Luk explained that "CYTOTEC" is originally a drug used to treat gastric ulcers and promote stomach wall protection, but it also stimulates the contraction of smooth muscles, including uterine muscles. He emphasized: "If this drug is mistakenly taken by a pregnant woman, it may cause violent uterine contractions, leading to miscarriage. For non-pregnant women, it may also affect the intestinal lining, causing discomfort or even damage."
Family doctor Aaron Lee pointed out that improper dosage or use beyond the applicable gestational period may not only lead to persistent bleeding but also incomplete abortion. Retained placental tissue can cause pelvic infections and even sepsis, with potentially severe consequences.
He recalled a shocking case: "There was an instance where a friend's foreign domestic helper self-administered abortion pills, resulting in heavy bleeding. The employer returned home to find infant remains in the toilet and immediately called the police, who sent the helper to the hospital for emergency treatment."
According to him, the abuse of abortion pills reflects loopholes in medical supervision. Luk and Lee recommended that the government strengthen crackdowns while promoting contraception and health education.
Calls for mandatory central electronic system for pharmacies
Legislative Council Member Doreen Kong expressed great concern about the incident: "In theory, the inflow and outflow of such prescription drugs should be recorded in the pharmacy's computer system, clearly documenting buyer information. However, pharmacies in Hong Kong are not fully electronic, making supervision significantly more difficult." She suggested the government should mandate pharmacies to adopt a central electronic system and conduct regular audits to ensure transparency in the flow of prescription drugs.
Regarding the situation where foreign domestic helpers allegedly transport abortion pills into Hong Kong via "personal carrying" or mail for illegal distribution, Kong noted that this reflects regulatory loopholes in Hong Kong's cross-border drug circulation.
Kong also pointed out that Hong Kong, as an international logistics hub, has frequent mail and parcel services, but the current monitoring of mailed parcels is clearly insufficient. This has led some foreign domestic helpers to exploit this loophole to bring contraband or prohibited drugs into Hong Kong from abroad and even engage in illegal sales locally. The government must strengthen monitoring of the logistics industry, establish intelligence collection networks, and conduct stricter inspections of suspicious parcels.
(Source: Wen Wei Po; Journalist: Wenliyuan; English Editor: Darius)
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