What is the difference between Clinical Oncology and Medical Oncology? Scope, colleges and specialist registration
Clinical Oncology (S26) treats cancer by methods other than surgery, such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and comes under the Hong Kong College of Radiologists; Medical Oncology (S36) is a specialty of adult internal medicine responsible for the medical treatment part of multidisciplinary care, under the Hong Kong College of Physicians (Hong Kong Academy of Medicine, Specialty Descriptions, April 2025). Chemotherapy in the Hospital Authority is provided by these two and other specialists (Hong Kong Cancer Strategy 2019, July 2019).
What is the difference between Clinical Oncology and Medical Oncology?
Clinical Oncology cares for patients with confirmed or suspected cancer, is responsible for diagnosis and investigation, and treats cancer by methods other than surgery, such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy and biological therapy, together with palliative and psychological care; Medical Oncology is a specialty of adult internal medicine whose scope is the prevention, investigation and diagnosis of cancer and the medical treatment part of multidisciplinary care (Hong Kong Academy of Medicine, Specialty Descriptions, April 2025). On the Medical Council register, the two are different specialties.
Which specialty takes charge of an individual patient, and how the patient is treated, is decided by the treating doctor according to the patient's condition.
| Specialty (Medical Council specialty code) | College | Scope | Chinese name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical Oncology (S26) | Hong Kong College of Radiologists | Cares for patients with confirmed or suspected cancer, is responsible for diagnosis and investigation, and treats cancer by methods other than surgery, such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy and biological therapy, together with palliative and psychological care | 臨床腫瘤科 |
| Medical Oncology (S36) | Hong Kong College of Physicians | A specialty of adult internal medicine; prevention, investigation and diagnosis of cancer, and the medical treatment part of multidisciplinary care | 內科腫瘤科 |
How do the two specialties share cancer treatment in the Hospital Authority?
Chemotherapy in the Hospital Authority is provided by clinical oncologists, medical oncologists and other specialists; the Hong Kong Cancer Strategy 2019 also proposes closer collaboration within clusters among clinical oncologists, medical oncologists, surgical oncologists and haematological oncologists to provide surgery and systemic treatments such as chemotherapy and targeted therapy (Hong Kong Cancer Strategy 2019, July 2019).
Our analysis: ‘oncology’ in everyday use can mean either Clinical Oncology (S26) or Medical Oncology (S36); for the specialties related to particular cancers, see the cancer pages under Choosing a doctor, for example How to choose a lung cancer doctor.
How do I check which specialty a doctor is listed under?
On the Medical Council of Hong Kong website, the Specialist Register can be opened by specialty; searching by name shows the specialty and the specialist registration number in the specialist registration field of the doctor's record. For the steps, see How to check a doctor's registration and specialty.
A doctor must be on the Specialist Register to hold himself or herself out as a specialist, and can use only the title of the specialty in which he or she is registered (Medical Council, Code of Professional Conduct for the Guidance of Registered Medical Practitioners, section 7, October 2022).
For the English names and codes of the two specialties, see Clinical Oncology: English name and code and Medical Oncology: English name and code.
How do I get a referral to a public oncology clinic? Can I book a private specialist directly?
To book a new appointment at a Hospital Authority specialist outpatient clinic, you need a referral letter issued by a locally registered doctor within the last three months; a letter from a private doctor is also accepted. Our analysis: for a private specialist, you can ask the hospital or clinic directly how to book; if you use medical insurance, whether a referral letter or pre-approval is needed depends on the policy terms, and you can ask the insurer first. The Hospital Authority fee schedule lists oncology clinics separately; from 1 January 2026, Eligible Persons pay HK$250 per attendance.
For the steps to book a public specialist outpatient clinic, see How to book a public specialist outpatient clinic; for what to prepare before seeing a specialist, see What to prepare before a specialist appointment.
Frequently asked questions
Is Clinical Oncology the same as radiotherapy?
Clinical Oncology treats cancer by methods other than surgery, including radiotherapy, chemotherapy and biological therapy, together with palliative and psychological care (Hong Kong Academy of Medicine, Specialty Descriptions, April 2025); the specialty's name on the Medical Council register is Clinical Oncology (S26).
Do both specialties prescribe chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy in the Hospital Authority is provided by clinical oncologists, medical oncologists and other specialists (Hong Kong Cancer Strategy 2019, July 2019).
What does a clinical oncologist treat?
Clinical Oncology (S26) treats cancer by methods other than surgery, such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy; for its scope, see the table above.
What does a medical oncologist treat?
Medical Oncology (S36) is a specialty of adult internal medicine responsible for the medical treatment part of multidisciplinary care; for its scope, see the table above.
Not sure whether I need an oncologist: can I see a family doctor first?
Primary healthcare is the first point of contact for individuals and families in a continuing healthcare process, and family doctors are the main healthcare professionals providing primary healthcare; the Primary Healthcare Blueprint's directions include improving the arrangements for family doctors to refer patients to specialists and hospitals (Health Bureau, December 2022). For choosing a family doctor, see How to choose a family doctor.