Public healthcare fees changed on 1 Jan 2026: A&E $400, inpatient $300/day, annual cap $10,000. This page explains the new fees, triage system and caregiving resources โ go to the right door, spend the right money.
See the new feesValid HKID = "eligible person"; once the stay permission behind your HKID lapses, you're charged as "non-eligible"
| Service | Eligible person | Non-eligible person |
|---|---|---|
| Accident & Emergency | $400 / visit | $2,100 / visit |
| Inpatient (acute bed) | $300 / day | $5,100โ7,400 / day |
| Specialist outpatient | $250 / visit ยท $20 per drug type | $850โ1,190 / visit |
| General outpatient (family medicine) | $150 / visit ยท $5 per drug type | $500 / visit |
| Intensive care unit | Per public inpatient arrangements | $35,600 / day |
Minor illness โ private, serious illness โ public, emergencies โ weigh the severity
Colds, fevers, gastroenteritis: the neighbourhood private GP costs $300โ$600, walk in and out without waiting, mostly covered by insurance. Far faster than booking a public GOPC slot.
Car accidents, chest pain, breathing difficulty โ go straight to A&E; triage Categories I & II are free and prioritised. Note: colds and coughs (Categories IV & V) still cost $400 and wait the longest โ don't use A&E as a night clinic.
Public hospitals have strong expertise at $300/day capped, but specialist queues are long. With VHIS voluntary health insurance, private hospitals skip the queue; weigh the budget for post-op recovery.
Public specialist $250/visit but needs referral and waits; private specialist $800โ$2,000/visit with no wait. The cheapest combo: public for chronic management + private for acute flare-ups.
The Hospital Authority's official app; one install saves you half the queue
Grab slots directly in the app's "Book GOPC Appointment" โ no 6am phone calls. Family medicine clinics $150 for episodic illness.
Check real-time A&E waiting times across hospitals before you leave โ pick the shortest, don't arrive only to find an 8-hour wait.
View and pay bills in the app; A&E untreated-visit refunds and the $10,000 annual cap waiver are also handled through HA Go.
Medication appointments, follow-up reminders and lab reports are all in the app โ set it up for parents who stay in HK long-term.
Care after discharge is when home life really gets chaotic
Transport to follow-ups, queue for you, listen to the doctor and take notes โ billed hourly. Most used by seniors living alone and new mothers; ask via the expert button for local companion agencies.
Post-op nursing, chronic condition care, rehab assistance. Look for teams with registered nurses or health workers' qualifications โ verify credentials and scope before signing.
For bedridden or cognitively impaired seniors: day centres, care-and-attention homes, or SWD elderly services; while on the waiting list, bridge with home care + a domestic helper.
You can ask for a helper with elder-care experience โ the Local Helper Board has profiles tagged "elder care", exactly for this.
Fees and arrangements per the Hospital Authority's latest announcements:
Compiled from 2026 public information. This module provides health information and referrals, not medical advice; follow your doctor's instructions, and referral services are provided directly by partner organisations.
BangBang