Booking a general outpatient clinic 2026: Family Medicine Clinic telephone and HA Go booking, registering as a new patient, priority groups and fees
At Family Medicine Clinics (formerly general outpatient clinics), patients with episodic illnesses can book a consultation slot within the next 24 hours through the telephone appointment system or HA Go, and follow-ups for chronic patients are arranged by the clinic; patients not yet registered with the Hospital Authority must first register in person at a clinic before they can book by telephone. From 1 January 2026, Eligible Persons pay HK$150 per attendance and HK$5 per prescribed drug item, charged in units of 4 weeks.
What is the difference between general outpatient clinics and Family Medicine Outpatient Services?
They are the same service: from 11 October 2025, the Hospital Authority's general outpatient services and family medicine specialist outpatient services were brought together under the name ‘Family Medicine Outpatient Services’, and general outpatient clinics were renamed ‘Family Medicine Clinics’; existing services are not affected.
Family Medicine Outpatient Services have been repositioned in line with the Primary Healthcare Blueprint, focusing on prevention-oriented services for underprivileged groups such as low-income families and elderly people in poverty (Hospital Authority, December 2025).
For the addresses and consultation hours of Family Medicine Clinics in each district, see Family Medicine Clinics in Hong Kong.
How do I book a Family Medicine Clinic appointment?
The booking method depends on the type of patient: Family Medicine Outpatient Services mainly serve two groups of patients, chronic patients in a stable condition (for example diabetes) and patients with episodic illnesses with relatively mild symptoms (for example colds) (Hospital Authority, December 2025).
The booking system operates 24 hours a day and updates availability, including cancelled slots, in real time (Hospital Authority, December 2025).
Patients can book a consultation time through the telephone appointment system, the eHealth mobile app or the ‘Book FMC’ function in the ‘HA Go’ mobile app (Hospital Authority, September 2026).
| Type of patient | How to book |
|---|---|
| Chronic patients | After each follow-up, the clinic arranges the next follow-up according to clinical need, with no need to phone to book |
| Patients with episodic illnesses | Book a morning, afternoon or evening consultation slot within the next 24 hours through the Family Medicine Clinic telephone appointment system or the ‘Book FMC’ function in HA Go |
| New patients not yet registered with the Hospital Authority | First register in person at any Family Medicine Clinic, bringing the original identity document; telephone booking can be used after that |
What should I note when booking by telephone?
From 15 August 2026, the Family Medicine Clinic telephone appointment system accepts bookings only from calls with caller ID; if a landline has opted for per-line blocking, you can dial 1357 before calling to show the number for that call.
Telephone booking is only for people who have registered with or used the services of a Hospital Authority hospital or clinic (Hospital Authority, July 2026).
Family Medicine Clinics have help desks to assist people who have difficulty booking by telephone; the Hospital Authority also encourages patients to use the ‘Book FMC’ function in HA Go (Hospital Authority, July 2026).
Who can book Family Medicine Clinic appointments with priority?
Official announcements do not describe the priority groups in exactly the same way; the table below sets out three announcements by date. Whether you can register as a priority group member can be checked through the eHealth mobile app or a District Health Centre / District Health Centre Express, or with a Family Medicine Clinic.
People in the priority groups must register as both a District Health Centre member and a priority group member, through the eHealth mobile app or in person at a District Health Centre / District Health Centre Express; when booking, they choose their group in eHealth and the system links to HA Go booking, with consultation fees at the Family Medicine Outpatient Services rate (Primary Healthcare Commission press release, October 2025).
Registered priority group members can, through eHealth, search HA Go first for slots available within the next 24 hours (provided slots are available at the time); there is no priority consultation on the day of attendance, and the clinic serves patients in order of booking (Primary Healthcare Commission scheme leaflet, November 2025).
| Announcement (date) | Priority groups described |
|---|---|
| Primary Healthcare Commission: ‘Family Medicine Outpatient Services Priority Groups Pilot Scheme’ (announced 24 October 2025, from 4 November 2025) | Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients, Old Age Living Allowance recipients aged 75 or above, holders of Level 0 vouchers under the Residential Care Service Voucher Scheme for the Elderly, and Working Family Allowance Scheme beneficiaries (eligible for 12 months from the date the approval notice is issued) |
| Hospital Authority press release (21 December 2025) | The same pilot scheme covers ‘specific groups including elderly aged 65 or above, CSSA recipients, and Working Family Allowance beneficiaries’, with about 800,000 people able to book episodic illness consultations with priority |
| Government reply to the Legislative Council (1 November 2023) | The Hospital Authority reserves ‘Elderly Appointment Quotas’ for people aged 65 or above, according to the distribution of each clinic's service users |
How much does a Family Medicine Clinic visit cost?
From 1 January 2026, Eligible Persons pay HK$150 per attendance at Family Medicine Clinics (including integrated clinics), and HK$5 per prescribed drug item, charged in units of 4 weeks (self-financed drugs excluded).
Before the fees reform, a general outpatient attendance cost HK$50, with no separate charge for prescribed drugs; Family Medicine Specialist Clinics charged HK$135 for the first attendance and HK$80 for follow-ups.
From 1 January 2026, pathology test charges also apply at Family Medicine Clinics (including integrated clinics): Basic items are free for Eligible Persons, Intermediate items cost HK$50 each and Advanced items HK$200 each.
Eligible Persons attending the Family Medicine Clinics of Tung Wah Eastern Hospital, Tung Wah Hospital and Kwong Wah Hospital (excluding integrated clinics) continue to be exempted from consultation and prescribed drug charges (Hospital Authority, October 2025).
Actual charges are as last announced by the Hospital Authority; you can confirm with the Family Medicine Clinic you attend.
Can I apply for a fee waiver for Family Medicine Clinic visits?
Yes: from 1 January 2026, the coverage of time-limited medical fee waivers was extended to episodic Family Medicine Outpatient Services.
For eligibility and how to apply, see Applying for a medical fee waiver; for the overall 2026 fees reform, see Public healthcare fees and charges reform 2026.
Are Family Medicine Clinics open in the evening or on holidays?
Some Family Medicine Clinics provide evening outpatient services, and some provide Sunday and public holiday outpatient services (Government paper submitted to the Legislative Council, March 2026); for the clinics in each district with evening or holiday sessions, see Family Medicine Clinics in Hong Kong.
Providing about 220,000 additional Hospital Authority Family Medicine Out-patient service quotas a year ‘starting next year’, according to local demand, including about 10,000 quotas for evening out-patient service, is a planned target (Chief Executive's 2026 Policy Address, September 2026).
For private hospital 24-hour outpatient fees, see Private hospital 24-hour outpatient fees.
Frequently asked questions
Have general outpatient clinics changed their name?
Yes: from 11 October 2025, Hospital Authority general outpatient clinics were renamed ‘Family Medicine Clinics’, and the services are collectively called ‘Family Medicine Outpatient Services’; existing services are not affected.
Do I need to register before my first visit to a Family Medicine Clinic?
Yes: new patients not yet registered with the Hospital Authority must register in person at any Family Medicine Clinic, bringing the original identity document, before they can book by telephone (Hospital Authority, July 2026).
Can older people book a general outpatient clinic with priority?
Official descriptions differ: the priority groups announced by the Primary Healthcare Commission on 24 October 2025 include four groups such as Old Age Living Allowance recipients aged 75 or above; the Hospital Authority said on 21 December 2025 that the pilot scheme covers ‘specific groups including elderly aged 65 or above’ as well as other groups; and the Government's reply to the Legislative Council in November 2023 mentioned ‘Elderly Appointment Quotas’ reserved for people aged 65 or above. Whether you can register as a priority group member can be checked through the eHealth mobile app or a District Health Centre / District Health Centre Express, or with a Family Medicine Clinic.
How much does a general outpatient clinic cost in 2026?
From 1 January 2026, Eligible Persons pay HK$150 per attendance at Family Medicine Clinics, and HK$5 per prescribed drug item, charged in units of 4 weeks (self-financed drugs excluded).
Find a doctor by district
This is our list of doctors and their clinics; it is not the Hospital Authority clinic booking.