How to choose an obstetrician and gynaecologist 2026: gynaecology and obstetrics, cervical screening, checking specialist registration, public and private fees and waiting, insurance

What does Obstetrics & Gynaecology cover?

Obstetrics & Gynaecology deals with women's health, including obstetrics (pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period) and gynaecology (diseases of the female reproductive system and genital tract) (Hong Kong Academy of Medicine, Specialty Descriptions, April 2025); the Hong Kong College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists also covers four branch specialties, each with its own specialty code on the Medical Council's register; see the table below. For other specialty names, see the Chinese–English list of medical specialty names.

Which doctor follows up a gynaecological or obstetric problem is decided by the treating doctor according to the condition.

How often should cervical screening be done? What do the two Hong Kong guidelines say?

Women aged 25 to 64 who have ever had sex should be screened regularly, and the recommendations of the Department of Health's Cervical Screening Programme and of the Cancer Expert Working Group on Cancer Prevention and Screening are the same (Department of Health Cervical Screening Programme; Cancer Expert Working Group on Cancer Prevention and Screening, 2021). The 2024 guideline of the Hong Kong College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has the same screening methods for ages 30 to 64 and one additional option for ages 25 to 29; the two are set side by side below.

How do I check whether a doctor is a specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology?

On the Medical Council of Hong Kong website, selecting ‘Obstetrics & Gynaecology’ (S06) in the Specialist Register opens the list of doctors registered in that specialty; 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 the qualification abbreviations on a doctor's business card mean, see what FHKAM means.

How do I get a referral to public obstetrics and gynaecology? Can I book a private obstetrician and gynaecologist directly?

The eight specialties for which the Hospital Authority regularly publishes new-case waiting times include Gynaecology; the data do not list obstetrics separately. To book a new-case appointment at a Hospital Authority specialist outpatient clinic, you need a referral letter issued within the past three months by a locally registered doctor; one from a private doctor is also accepted. Compiled by this site: 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.

‘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 consultation fees at each institution, see private obstetrics and gynaecology fees compared; 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.

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.

How long is the wait for public gynaecology?

From October 2025 to September 2026, the median waiting time for stable new cases in Hospital Authority gynaecology was 18 to 54 weeks (about 4 to 12 months) across the seven hospital clusters (under the former boundaries); the data are next due to be updated on 29 January 2027; the Hospital Authority publishes the figures under ‘Gynaecology’ and does not list obstetrics separately. For each cluster's figures, see public waiting times for gynaecology.

Roughly how much does it cost to give birth in a private hospital?

At the 8 private hospitals this site checked, hospital packages in the lowest room class cost about HK$22,000 to HK$26,800 for a vaginal delivery and about HK$26,000 to HK$34,600 for a caesarean section (HK dollars; packages published on hospital websites as checked on 1 October 2026; room class, number of days and items included differ between hospitals); for what each hospital's package includes, see private hospital maternity package fees compared.

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 should I check when using medical insurance for an obstetrician and gynaecologist?

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, and what should I bring to the first visit?

Is the doctor listed under Obstetrics & Gynaecology (S06) on the Medical Council's Specialist Register?

How much are the first consultation and a follow-up? What grade is the doctor?

Does the consultation fee include medicines? What tests might be needed this time, and roughly how much will they cost?

If you are considering giving birth in a private hospital, what do the doctor's fee and the hospital package each include?

Do you accept my medical insurance, can you bill the insurer directly, and is a referral letter or pre-approval needed?

If a procedure or hospital stay is needed later, can you give a budget estimate first?

What to bring: the referral letter (if any), previous test reports and a list of the medicines you are taking; see what to prepare before seeing a specialist.

Gynaecological or obstetric problems: 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 whether you need an obstetrician and gynaecologist, 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