Follow Hong Kong Investment Immigration and Hong Kong Living guides: Many people have numerous questions regarding medical services in Hong Kong. Previously, I introduced how to access emergency services in public hospitals in Hong Kong. This time, we will discuss how to access emergency services in private clinics in Hong Kong.
Private clinics cannot compare to public or private hospitals in terms of resources and equipment. If further blood tests or imaging examinations are required, the clinic doctor will refer the patient to a nearby laboratory for tests and ask them to return for a follow-up with the results. Additionally, more complex cases that require hospitalization or wounds that cannot be treated with simple bandaging exceed the capabilities of private doctors, and these patients are usually referred to public or private hospitals for continued treatment.
Regarding the fees at private clinics, I mentioned this in my previous article. Generally, for common ailments like colds, flu, or diarrhea, the consultation fee, along with 2-3 days of medication, is approximately 300-500 Hong Kong dollars. Of course, fees vary by clinic and doctor, and this figure is just a reference. Blood tests and imaging examinations incur additional charges. If it is a specialist doctor, the fees are even higher.
At this point, let’s discuss what general practitioners and specialists are.
Private doctors display their qualifications prominently in their clinics, and some doctors even have a long list of certifications. To obtain a medical license, doctors must first acquire the basic medical undergraduate degree: Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS).
In Hong Kong, the degree abbreviation for graduates from the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong is MBBS; while the abbreviation for graduates from the Faculty of Medicine at the Chinese University of Hong Kong is MBchB. After completing five years of medical school and obtaining the MBBS degree, all graduates must intern in public hospitals for one year. During this year, interns are referred to as Housemen or Interns, and they must rotate through internal medicine, surgery, and obstetrics/gynecology and pediatrics, serving as the first line of clinical care in public hospital wards.
Do you remember the drama "Call 36 Hours"? It depicts the life of interns in Hong Kong. After completing the one-year internship, the Medical Council of Hong Kong issues a medical license (License of Registration), allowing the doctor to practice independently as a general practitioner.
After obtaining the qualification as a general practitioner, most doctors choose to remain in public hospitals under the Hospital Authority to complete specialist training. Doctors must select a specialty, such as internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics, pediatrics, or anesthesiology, and undergo 6-8 years of training, during which they must also pass examinations from the relevant specialist college to ultimately become a specialist doctor.
Doctors also continue their education by enrolling in related courses. If these courses are recognized by the Medical Council, they can be presented as qualifications. These courses are generally represented as certain diplomas or certificates, which are considered supplementary qualifications compared to the medical degree and specialist qualifications. Doctors in Hong Kong truly undergo rigorous selection!
Due to their extended professional training, specialists generally only see patients related to their specific field; and there are relatively fewer of them compared to general practitioners. Appointments are usually required to see private practice specialists, and the fees are higher, with consultations around one thousand Hong Kong dollars, and subsequent examinations potentially costing more. Typically, patients with special needs seek specialists for emergency services. For example, parents in Hong Kong tend to take their children to pediatric private clinics for treatment.
Hong Kong boasts a high-quality healthcare system that is unmatched by mainland China, which is why immigration to Hong Kong has always been a favored option for many immigrants!