Public or private specialist? Referral, waiting, fees and insurance compared
Public specialist clinics need a referral letter from a locally registered doctor and queue cases by condition; Eligible Persons pay HK$250 per attendance, and Hong Kong residents can also apply for an annual charge cap of HK$10,000 (excluding self-financed drugs and devices). Private specialists' waiting is as arranged by the clinic; for the eight common specialties this site checked, a first or per-visit consultation is about HK$500 to HK$3,200 (the highest is a cap for a consultation extended by the patient's condition), with medicines and tests generally extra. In an emergency, go to A&E.
What is the difference between public and private specialists?
| Item | Public (Hospital Authority specialist outpatient clinic) | Private specialist |
|---|---|---|
| Booking | You need a referral letter issued by a locally registered doctor within three months; for some specialties you can submit an application through ‘BookHA’ in HA Go | Ask the clinic or hospital; if you use medical insurance, first confirm with the insurer whether a referral letter is needed |
| Waiting | Classified as urgent, semi-urgent or stable by condition; waiting times for stable new cases differ by specialty and cluster, see Public specialist waiting time guides | As arranged by the clinic |
| Consultation fee | HK$250 per attendance for Eligible Persons; HK$850 per attendance for Non-eligible Persons | For the eight common specialties this site checked, about HK$500 to HK$3,200 for a first consultation or per consultation (the highest is the cap for a consultation extended because of the patient's condition) |
| Medicines and tests | HK$20 per drug item for Eligible Persons, charged in units of 4 weeks; some pathology and radiology items are charged separately | Medicines are generally charged separately, and tests and investigations are charged by item |
| Cost protection | An annual charge cap of HK$10,000 (excluding self-financed drugs and devices), by application; those in financial difficulty can apply for a medical fee waiver | Depends on your medical insurance cover |
| Fee information | Fee schedule published in the Gazette | Private hospitals must have a fee schedule; before a non-emergency treatment or procedure, you can ask for a budget estimate of the service fees |
How do I choose? Think about three things first
Condition: in an emergency, go to the Accident and Emergency Department; public specialist outpatient clinics triage by condition, and the targets for the median waiting time of urgent and semi-urgent new cases are within two weeks and eight weeks respectively.
Total cost: besides the private consultation fee, medicines, tests and investigations are charged separately; if you need a test or operation, you can ask for a budget estimate of the service fees first. Public fees are subsidised, and Hong Kong residents can also apply for an annual charge cap of HK$10,000.
Insurance: first ask the insurer whether specialist outpatient visits are covered and whether a referral letter or pre-approval is needed, then decide where to go.
Can a private doctor refer you to a public specialist clinic?
The referral letter for booking a new appointment at a specialist outpatient clinic must be issued by a locally registered doctor within the last three months, and does not have to be from a public-sector doctor (Hospital Authority, January 2018).
We suggest asking the private doctor to attach the results of tests already done, or copies of reports, to the referral letter, and bringing them with you to the specialist outpatient clinic.
Can I find out private fees in advance?
A doctor must disclose the consultation fee when the patient asks (Medical Council Code of Professional Conduct, revised 2022). 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).
The Department of Health has recommended 30 common non-emergency treatments and procedures for which private hospitals can provide a budget estimate of the service fees before admission.
Common misconceptions
‘A referral letter written by a private doctor cannot be used to book a public specialist clinic’: no. The referral letter need only be issued by a locally registered doctor, and does not have to be from a public-sector doctor.
‘A public specialist outpatient visit costs only a few dozen dollars’: no. From 1 January 2026, Eligible Persons pay HK$250 per attendance, the same for first and follow-up visits.
‘The private consultation fee is the total cost of one visit’: no. Medicines are generally charged separately, tests and investigations are charged by item, and some hospitals charge a facility fee.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a public specialist outpatient clinic charge now?
From 1 January 2026, Eligible Persons pay HK$250 per attendance and HK$20 per prescribed drug item, charged in units of 4 weeks; Non-eligible Persons pay HK$850 per attendance.
Roughly how much does a private specialist cost?
At the private hospitals and medical centres Book a Doctor checked, a first consultation or each consultation for the eight common specialties costs about HK$500 to HK$3,200 (the highest is the cap for a consultation extended because of the patient's condition), and medicines and tests are generally charged separately; confirm with the institution first.