Release date: 30 December 2025
Key Findings for year 2024
Background and Method
Results
Summary
The key findings of the 2024 surveillance include the following:
- The overall antimicrobial supply increased slightly from 17.08 DID in 2023 to 18.33 DID in 2024, yet there was a notable 10% decrease from the 2016 baseline, with a CAGR of -1.3%.
- In 2024, Hong Kong received 61.5% of overall antimicrobial supplied under the Access group of WHO AWaRe categorisation, which exceeded the benchmark of 60% as recommended by WHO.
- The majority of antimicrobials supplied in Hong Kong went to private doctors (58.4% in 2024), who are the primary providers of primary healthcare services, followed by Hospital Authority (27.4%), private hospitals (6.4%), and community pharmacies (3.3%).
- The supply of antimicrobials to community pharmacies decreased from 18.5% in 2016 to 3.3% in 2024.
- Overall wholesale supply of broad-spectrum antimicrobials ('Big Guns') in Hong Kong showed an increase of 6.0% (CAGR) from 2016 to 2024.
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Recommendations
As most antimicrobials were supplied to private doctors (58.4%) and HA (27.4%), enhancing stewardship programs in primary care and public hospitals is recommended to ensure appropriate prescribing and curb antimicrobial resistance.
Most broad-spectrum antimicrobials ('Big Guns') were supplied to HA and private hospitals, continuous monitoring is recommended to prevent overuse and resistance development.
Acknowledgement
We would like to acknowledge product registration certificate holders and licensed drug wholesalers for providing wholesale supply data for 2024 and the Drug Office of DH for facilitating the surveillance exercise.
Past Reports
Key findings for year 2024 
Background and Method of the Report 
Results of the Report 
Access Past Reports