How to choose a prostate cancer doctor 2026: the specialties involved, checking specialist registration, PSA screening recommendations, public and private routes, insurance
To choose a prostate cancer doctor, first check the doctor's specialty on the Medical Council's Specialist Register. Very low-risk prostate cancer is managed mainly by active surveillance, and other patients can consider radical prostatectomy, radical radiotherapy or both (Hong Kong Cancer Strategy 2019, July 2019). Compiled by Book a Doctor: the related specialties are mainly Urology (S29), Clinical Oncology (S26) and Medical Oncology (S36); Book a Doctor's lists show 74, 68 and 19 specialists respectively (as of 25 October 2026).
Which specialty should I see for prostate cancer?
Compiled by this site: based on the treatments described in the Hong Kong Cancer Strategy 2019 below, the specialties related to prostate cancer are mainly Urology (S29), Clinical Oncology (S26) and Medical Oncology (S36); the scope of each is in the table below. Active surveillance is the preferred option for very low-risk prostate cancer; other risk groups can be treated with the aim of cure by robot-assisted radical prostatectomy, radical radiotherapy or both; patients whose cancer has spread receive various systemic cancer treatments to prolong survival and improve quality of life, with radiotherapy added as needed; when the disease cannot be cured, family-centred palliative care is provided (Hong Kong Cancer Strategy 2019, Annex One, July 2019).
Chemotherapy in the Hospital Authority is provided by clinical oncologists, medical oncologists and doctors of other specialties (Hong Kong Cancer Strategy 2019, July 2019).
Compiled by this site: ‘oncology’ in everyday speech can mean Clinical Oncology (S26) or Medical Oncology (S36); see Clinical Oncology: English name and code and Medical Oncology: English name and code.
Which specialty takes charge of an individual patient, and how the patient is treated, is decided by the treating doctor according to the condition.
| Specialty (Medical Council specialty code) | College | Scope | Chinese name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urology (S29) | The College of Surgeons of Hong Kong | A surgical specialty; diseases of the urinary system in men and women and of the male reproductive system, including minimally invasive surgery and endoscopic examination and treatment | 泌尿外科 |
| Clinical Oncology (S26) | Hong Kong College of Radiologists | Cares for patients with confirmed or suspected cancer, covering diagnosis and investigation, and treats cancer by means other than surgery, such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy and biological therapy, as well as palliative and psychological care | 臨床腫瘤科 |
| Medical Oncology (S36) | Hong Kong College of Physicians | A specialty of adult internal medicine; cancer prevention, investigation and diagnosis, and the medical treatment part of multidisciplinary care | 內科腫瘤科 |
| Palliative Medicine (S47) | Hong Kong College of Physicians and Hong Kong College of Radiologists | Comprehensive care for patients with advanced, progressive illness and a limited prognosis, to improve quality of life, and care for their families | 紓緩醫學科 |
I have no symptoms but want a PSA test to screen for prostate cancer. What do the Hong Kong recommendations say?
Current evidence is insufficient to recommend for or against population-based prostate cancer screening for men without symptoms; men considering screening should first discuss the benefits and risks with a doctor (Hong Kong Cancer Expert Working Group on Cancer Prevention and Screening, revised June 2026); details are in the table below.
The screening recommendations apply only to people without symptoms (Hong Kong Cancer Expert Working Group on Cancer Prevention and Screening, revised June 2026). Early prostate cancer usually has no symptoms; people with symptoms such as difficulty or delay in passing urine, a slow or weak urine flow, frequent urination (especially at night), blood in the urine, or pain in the lower back, pelvis or hips should seek medical care as soon as possible (Hong Kong Cancer Strategy 2019, Annex One, July 2019).
| Applies to | The Working Group's recommendation |
|---|---|
| Men in Hong Kong with no symptoms and at average risk | Evidence is insufficient to recommend for or against population-based screening; men considering screening should first discuss the benefits and risks with a doctor; the screening blood test to consider is prostate-specific antigen (PSA), with the ages to start and stop screening and the interval decided individually; screening by digital rectal examination alone is not recommended |
| Men in Hong Kong at higher risk, such as those carrying germline mutations including BRCA2, or with a family history of prostate cancer | Should seek a doctor's advice on whether and how to be screened; the screening blood test is likewise PSA, with ages and interval decided individually; digital rectal examination alone is not recommended |
| Men with a raised PSA | Further assessment with MRI and blood markers (such as the Prostate Health Index, PHI, and the 4K score) can be considered to help decide whether to have a biopsy |
How do I check a doctor's specialist registration?
On the Medical Council of Hong Kong website, the Specialist Register can be opened by specialty to show its list of doctors; a search by name shows the specialty and 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.
Doctors can present themselves as specialists only if they are on the Specialist Register, and can use only the title of the specialty in which they are registered (Medical Council Code of Professional Conduct, section 7, October 2022).
For what qualification abbreviations mean, see what FHKAM means.
How do the public and private routes work?
‘Eligible persons’ in the table mainly means holders of a Hong Kong Identity Card and children under 11 who are Hong Kong residents; for details, see the 2026 public healthcare fee reform.
For booking steps, see how to book a public specialist outpatient clinic; for a general comparison of the two routes, see public or private for a specialist; for cancer drug charges and subsidies, see cancer financial support in Hong Kong.
If the condition gets worse while waiting, you can contact the specialist outpatient clinic and ask for an earlier appointment; in an emergency, go to Accident & Emergency.
| Item | Public (Hospital Authority) | Private |
|---|---|---|
| How to start | A referral letter issued within the past three months by a locally registered doctor is required; one from a private doctor is also accepted | Book directly with the hospital or clinic; if using medical insurance, first ask the insurer whether a referral letter or pre-approval is needed |
| Triage | New cases are usually first assessed by a nurse and then reviewed by a specialist, and classed as urgent, semi-urgent or stable; the Hospital Authority's target is a median waiting time within two weeks for urgent and within eight weeks for semi-urgent new cases | As arranged by the clinic |
| Service arrangements | Most Hospital Authority cancer services (such as diagnostic radiology, pathology, endoscopy, surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and palliative care) are provided mainly in regional hospitals or cancer centres (Hong Kong Cancer Strategy 2019, July 2019) | Depends on the hospital or medical centre where the doctor practises; you can ask the hospital |
| Consultation fee | HK$250 per specialist outpatient attendance for eligible persons; oncology clinics, listed separately in the fee schedule, are also HK$250 per attendance (from 1 January 2026) | Ask the hospital or clinic; for what a quoted consultation fee usually covers, see the private specialist fees overview |
| Drugs | HK$20 per drug item, charged in units of 4 weeks (excluding self-financed drugs) | Drugs are usually charged separately |
| Fee protection | An annual fee cap of HK$10,000 (excluding special accommodation ward charges and self-financed drugs and devices), by application, with no means test; people in financial difficulty can apply for a medical fee waiver | Depends on your medical insurance cover; see using medical insurance for a private specialist |
How do I compare hospitals and medical centres?
When comparing, look at the same item on the same basis. Private hospitals must keep a fee schedule covering all chargeable items, and patients have the right to know the charges before treatment (Department of Health Code of Practice for Private Hospitals, July 2026).
For each private hospital's fees, see private hospital fees.
| What to compare | How to compare like with like |
|---|---|
| Specialties and services | Whether doctors of the related specialties above see patients there; whether services such as radiotherapy are provided in the same hospital; you can ask the hospital |
| Budget estimate | Before a non-emergency procedure or hospital stay, you can ask for a budget estimate; the Department of Health has recommended 30 common non-emergency treatments and procedures for which private hospitals can give a budget estimate before admission |
| Insurance | Whether fees can be billed directly to the insurer; whether a referral letter or pre-approval is needed |
What should I check when using medical insurance for a prostate cancer doctor?
Before seeing a private specialist, confirm three things with the insurer: whether the policy covers specialist outpatient visits, whether it is limited to a designated medical network, and whether a referral letter or pre-approval is needed; see Using medical insurance for a private specialist.
The Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme covers only individual indemnity hospital insurance; outpatient insurance is outside the Scheme. The Standard Plan covers up to 1 outpatient or emergency consultation before a hospital stay or day surgery, and up to 3 follow-up outpatient visits within 90 days after discharge or day surgery, which must be directly related to the illness or injury requiring the hospital stay or day surgery, at HK$580 per visit and HK$3,000 per policy year (Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme, Standard Plan policy template, July 2022).
Some insurers offer pre-approval (commonly called ‘免找數’): if both the policy and the hospital offer direct billing, you can apply to the insurer before admission and the insurer pays the hospital directly; the approved amount is an estimate, and before discharge you still pay charges not listed in the ‘letter of guarantee’, such as the deductible, co-payment and items outside the cover (Insurance Authority, January 2024); see Medical insurance pre-approval.
What should I ask before booking?
Which specialty is the doctor listed under on the Medical Council's Specialist Register?
Does the doctor regularly treat patients with prostate cancer? Will the treatment plan be discussed with other specialties?
How much is the first consultation? What tests might be needed this time, and roughly how much will they cost?
If surgery, radiotherapy or a hospital stay is needed later, can you give a budget estimate first?
Do you accept my medical insurance, and is a referral letter or pre-approval needed?
What to bring: the referral letter (if any), previous test reports and images, and a list of the medicines you are taking; see what to prepare before seeing a specialist.
For a fuller checklist of what to ask your doctor and care team after a diagnosis, see what to ask your cancer doctor.
Prostate cancer: when should I call 999 or go to A&E straight away?
If you feel it is an emergency, call 999 straight away. The situations in which this site suggests calling 999, with the source for each, are listed in Why do we suggest calling 999?.
If it is not urgent and you are not sure which specialty you need, you can see a family doctor first; which specialty to be referred to is decided by the attending doctor according to your condition.
Frequently asked questions
Who is a good prostate cancer doctor?
What you can check yourself: which specialty the doctor is listed under on the Medical Council's Specialist Register, whether to go public or private, the fees, and the questions to ask before booking. To find a doctor by specialty and district, use Book a Doctor's Urology (74), Clinical Oncology (68) and Medical Oncology (19, as of 25 October 2026) lists, each doctor page showing the register check date, in order of English name, not of preference. Book a Doctor does not publish patient reviews, because it is hard to verify whether an online reviewer actually saw the doctor; instead it lists what you can check yourself, such as register entries, qualifications and practice arrangements, with their sources and dates.
How common is prostate cancer in Hong Kong?
In 2023 prostate cancer was the third most common cancer among men in Hong Kong, with 3,031 new cases, 16.2% of new cancer cases in men; in the same year it was the fourth leading cause of cancer death in men, with 522 men dying of prostate cancer, 6.1% of cancer deaths in men (Hong Kong SAR Government Cancer Online Resource Hub).
How much does an MRI scan cost in a public hospital?
MRI is an Advanced item among non-urgent radiology services; from 1 January 2026, eligible persons pay HK$500 per item (Hospital Authority Chief Executive, March 2025).
How much does a Hospital Authority oncology clinic charge?
From 1 January 2026, eligible persons pay HK$250 per consultation at a Hospital Authority oncology clinic, the same as at a specialist outpatient clinic.
Find a doctor by district
Urology specialists in Hong Kong, by district →