Not sure which specialty to see? How family doctors, Family Medicine Clinics and A&E differ
Primary healthcare is the first point of contact in a continuing healthcare process, and family doctors are the main providers of primary healthcare (Health Bureau, December 2022); Hospital Authority specialist outpatient clinics mainly provide specialist care for patients referred by general outpatient clinics (now called Family Medicine Clinics), private doctors or family doctors (Government reply to the Legislative Council, November 2023). In an emergency, go to the Accident and Emergency Department.
Not sure which specialty to see: whom can I see first?
Primary healthcare is the first point of contact for individuals and families in a continuing healthcare process, and family doctors are the main providers of primary healthcare (Health Bureau, December 2022); the Primary Healthcare Commission promotes, through District Health Centres, a community-based primary healthcare model with family doctors at its core (Government discussion paper submitted to the Legislative Council, March 2026).
Hospital Authority specialist outpatient clinics mainly provide specialist care for patients referred by general outpatient clinics (now called Family Medicine Clinics), private doctors or family doctors (Government reply to the Legislative Council, November 2023); booking a new appointment at a specialist outpatient clinic needs a referral letter issued by a locally registered doctor within the last three months.
Which specialty to refer to is decided by the treating doctor according to the condition.
For how internal medicine and surgery differ, see Internal medicine vs surgery.
| Route | Who it serves and arrangements | Fee | How to start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private family doctor or general practitioner | As arranged by the clinic | As charged by the clinic | Book directly; see How to choose a family doctor |
| Hospital Authority Family Medicine Clinics | Mainly serve chronic disease patients whose condition is stable and patients with episodic illnesses with relatively mild symptoms, and focus on serving underprivileged groups such as low-income families and elderly people in poverty | HK$150 per attendance for Eligible Persons (from 1 January 2026) | For episodic illnesses, a slot within the next 24 hours can be booked through the telephone appointment system or HA Go; see How to book a Family Medicine Clinic |
| Accident and Emergency Department | Triage nurses classify patients into five categories according to their condition, and the more serious patients are treated first | HK$400 per attendance for Eligible Persons; critical and emergency patients are exempt | Go directly; see A&E fees and triage |
| 18111 hotline | One-stop mental health support and referral 24 hours a day | — | Call 18111; see Where can I get help for emotional distress or anxiety? |
How does A&E triage work?
At Hospital Authority Accident and Emergency Departments, experienced and specially trained triage nurses make an initial assessment based on medical history, symptoms and vital signs at the time of attendance, and classify patients into five categories (critical, emergency, urgent, semi-urgent and non-urgent), deciding the order of treatment by the severity of the condition.
Semi-urgent and non-urgent patients are generally in a relatively stable condition and not in danger of their lives (for example influenza or stomach upsets), and most can be treated at Family Medicine Clinics or private clinics (Government reply to the Legislative Council, January 2026); for all Family Medicine Clinics in Hong Kong, see Hong Kong Family Medicine Clinics.
What should I prepare before seeing a doctor?
You can bring your identity document, a referral letter (if any), previous test reports and images, a list of the medicines you are taking and your insurance details; see What to prepare for your first doctor visit and What to prepare before a specialist appointment.
Frequently asked questions
Not sure which specialty to see: what should I do?
Primary healthcare is the first point of contact for individuals and families in a continuing healthcare process, and family doctors are the main providers of primary healthcare (Health Bureau, December 2022); the Primary Healthcare Commission promotes, through District Health Centres, a community-based primary healthcare model with family doctors at its core (Government discussion paper submitted to the Legislative Council, March 2026). In an emergency, go to the Accident and Emergency Department.
How much does a public Family Medicine Clinic charge?
From 1 January 2026, Eligible Persons pay HK$150 per attendance at Hospital Authority Family Medicine Clinics, and HK$5 per prescribed drug item, charged in units of 4 weeks (self-financed drugs excluded).