Hospitals and Clinics

Hong Kong boasts a world-class healthcare system. Thanks to its huge concentration of clinics, hospitals and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) clinics in every region and district, top-class medical facilities and highly skilled staff, it was ranked first in Asia in Bloomberg's 2018 Health Care Efficiency Index.

There are 43 public hospitals and 13 private hospitals, and most doctors and nurses in the public hospitals speak English. It costs around HK$180 per attendance for Accident and Emergency, with general outpatient services charged at HK$50. Everyone with a Hong Kong Identity Card (HKID) can access medical services at these reduced rates. The ambulance is just a phone call away (dial 999), is free of charge, and arrives within 12 minutes of you placing the call.

If you opt to see a private GP for a more minor ailment or simply need a course of antibiotics for an infection, surgeries and clinics are plentiful in Hong Kong, with many situated inside office towers and shopping malls. Many of these private clinics offer appointments on very short notice and the consultation fee generally includes medicine.

Most corporate jobs will also offer private health insurance through leading international insurance providers. The city's 13 private hospitals offer a wide variety of medical and surgical services, including cardiology, oncology, respiratory medicine, physiotherapy, ear, nose and throat, orthopaedics and traumatology.

Admittedly, the market is flooded with thousands of insurance products, and even the most clear-headed can struggle to find the right plan. To quell the confusion, the Hong Kong government has initiated the widely adopted Volunteer Health Insurance Scheme (VHIS). All VHIS providers need to comply with standardised requirements from the Health Bureau to offer VHIS plans in the market. If you are looking for a way to de-clutter your options, this is a good place to start!