CT and MRI scans 2026: government hospital or private? Prices, set charges with a Hospital Authority referral, and quotes compared
CT and MRI are Advanced items in non-emergency radiology, at HK$500 per item in public hospitals for Eligible Persons from 1 January 2026 (tier per Hospital Authority Chief Executive, March 2025; charge per the HA Eligible Persons fee schedule); scans during an inpatient stay are included in the HK$300 daily acute bed charge. Privately, at the 13 hospitals and medical centres Book a Doctor checked, a plain MRI brain scan is about HK$5,500 to HK$9,990 and a plain CT brain scan about HK$1,910 to HK$3,690; some private hospitals set charges for patients with a Hospital Authority referral letter.
What are the routes to an MRI or CT scan?
Compiled by this site: there are three common routes: having the scan in a public hospital while under Hospital Authority care, taking a Hospital Authority referral letter to a private hospital or medical centre that offers set charges, or paying privately at a private hospital; the conditions, fees and documents for each route are in the table below.
Whether to have a scan, which part of the body to scan, and whether to use a contrast agent, is decided by the treating doctor according to the patient's condition.
For public waiting times, see public CT and MRI waiting times; for how to prepare for a CT scan, see what is a CT scan.
| Item | Public hospital (Hospital Authority) | Private hospital with a Hospital Authority referral letter | Private hospital or medical centre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fees | For Eligible Persons, non-emergency CT and MRI HK$500 per item (Advanced items, from 1 January 2026) | For example, HKBH East Kowloon Medical Centre (Hong Kong Baptist Hospital): plain CT brain scan HK$1,241, plain MRI brain scan HK$3,444 | 13 institutions: plain MRI brain scan about HK$5,500 to HK$9,990; plain CT brain scan about HK$1,910 to HK$3,690 |
| Fee protection | Annual charge cap of HK$10,000 (by application); those in financial difficulty can apply for a medical fee waiver | Depends on medical insurance | Depends on medical insurance |
| Documents to prepare | Hong Kong Identity Card | Hospital Authority referral letter (as each institution requires) | Doctor's referral or examination request; if using medical insurance, the documents the insurer requires |
How much does an MRI or CT scan cost in a public hospital?
From 1 January 2026, Eligible Persons are charged per item for non-emergency radiology services in the Hospital Authority: Basic items are free, Intermediate items are HK$250 per item and Advanced items HK$500 per item (Hospital Authority Eligible Persons fee schedule, effective 1 January 2026); CT and MRI scans are Advanced items (Hospital Authority Chief Executive, March 2025). Inpatient charges are all-inclusive, so CT and MRI scans during an inpatient stay are included in the HK$300 daily acute bed charge (Hospital Authority Chief Executive, March 2025).
On the public side, Hong Kong residents can apply for an annual charge cap of HK$10,000, counted by calendar year, with no means test, excluding inpatient charges in special wards and self-financed drugs and devices; those in financial difficulty can apply for a medical fee waiver; for details, see Public healthcare fee reform 2026.
Roughly how much does a private MRI or CT scan cost?
All 13 private hospitals and medical centres this site checked publish fees for plain MRI and CT brain scans: MRI about HK$5,500 to HK$9,990 and CT about HK$1,910 to HK$3,690; other body parts are in the table below, and pricing bases differ (outpatient, standard room or a single fee).
For each institution's fees, see MRI fees compared and CT fees compared.
| Scan | Compiled by this site: fee range at private hospitals and medical centres that publish the item |
|---|---|
| MRI brain (plain) | 13 institutions, from HK$5,500 (Evangel Hospital) to HK$9,990 (Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital, outpatient/general ward price) |
| MRI brain (plain and with contrast) | 13 institutions, from HK$8,080 (HKBH East Kowloon Medical Centre) to HK$15,970 (Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital) |
| MRI spine, one region (plain) | 11 institutions, from HK$5,500 (Evangel Hospital, lumbar spine) to HK$10,120 (Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital) |
| CT brain (plain) | 13 institutions, from HK$1,910 (HKBH East Kowloon Medical Centre) to HK$3,690 (Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital) |
| CT chest (plain) | 11 institutions, from HK$2,900 (HKBH East Kowloon Medical Centre) to HK$5,230 (Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital) |
How do I compare private quotes?
When comparing, put the same item on the same basis: whether the package includes the doctor's fee and the anaesthetist's fee, the room class and length of stay, and which doctors or referral routes it applies to. Private hospitals must have 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).
Before a non-emergency procedure or admission, you can ask for a budget estimate of the service fees; the Department of Health has recommended 30 common non-emergency treatments and procedures for which private hospitals can provide a budget estimate before admission. For arrangements when using medical insurance, see Using medical insurance for a private specialist.
For booking arrangements, see Booking private imaging; for the radiologist's role and specialist registration, see What does a radiologist do?.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an MRI cost in a government hospital?
MRI is an Advanced item in non-emergency radiology (Hospital Authority Chief Executive, March 2025), at HK$500 per item in public hospitals for Eligible Persons from 1 January 2026 (Hospital Authority Eligible Persons fee schedule, effective 1 January 2026).
How much does a CT scan cost in a government hospital?
CT is an Advanced item in non-emergency radiology (Hospital Authority Chief Executive, March 2025), at HK$500 per item in public hospitals for Eligible Persons from 1 January 2026 (Hospital Authority Eligible Persons fee schedule, effective 1 January 2026).
How much does a CT scan cost at a private hospital?
At the 13 private hospitals and medical centres Book a Doctor checked, a plain CT brain scan is about HK$1,910 to HK$3,690, on different pricing bases (outpatient, standard room or a single charge); some private hospitals set charges for patients with a Hospital Authority referral letter, for example HKBH East Kowloon Medical Centre: plain CT brain scan HK$1,241.
Is a private MRI cheaper with a Hospital Authority referral letter?
Some private hospitals and medical centres have set charges for patients with a Hospital Authority referral letter, for example HKBH East Kowloon Medical Centre: plain MRI brain scan HK$3,444 and plain CT brain scan HK$1,241; for other hospitals' arrangements, ask the hospital directly.