Public Healthcare Fees and Charges Reform - Frequently Asked Questions

The new A&E fees for Eligible Persons will be revised from $180 to $400, taking effect from 1 Jan 2026.

Under the new A&E fees, fee is exempted for Triage Category I, II patients (Eligible Persons), enabling A&E Departments to concentrate resources on taking care of patients in need.

For payment made by specified electronic payment means including credit cards or electronic wallets (Alipay, AlipayHK, WeChat Pay, WeChat Pay HK), refund will be credited to the specified electronic payment means. Other refunds (including electronic payment made via Octopus) would be made by cheque.

Exemption application is not required and exemption details are as follows:
- A&E discharge: A&E fee will be refunded to patient.
- Hospitalisation: A&E fee will be offset with inpatient bills.
- A&E attendance without payment at registration: No bill will be issued.

The A&E services consist of two main categories:
1. A&E 1st attendance: Incurs a charge of $400 for Eligible Persons, covering diagnostic services, such as radiology examinations and blood tests and drugs that are clinically-indicated during the visit. (Patients triaged as Category I, II at an A&E Department will be exempted from attendance fee payment.)
- Urgent call back cases: If deemed necessary by the A&E Department upon initial attendance, a call back case will result in a new A&E attendance and the captioned attendance fee will be waived.

2. Scheduled A&E follow-up attendance (Specialist Out-patient Clinic): Incurs a consultation fee of $250 per visit for Eligible Persons (e.g., ARV vaccination, follow-up abnormal pathology results, etc.).
Radiology/Pathology investigation’s itemised charges apply for:
- Any radiology/pathology investigations ordered at A&E 1st attendance or A&E follow-up attendance, and scheduled at a later date than A&E discharge date.

Starting 1 Jan 2026, when the new A&E fees ($400 for Eligible Persons) takes effect, HA will simultaneously regularise the special A&E refund arrangements.

For Triage Category III-V patients who choose to seek treatment at other private healthcare institutions without receiving medical consultation after triage may apply for a $350 refund. Refund application should be made within 24 hours after registration via HA Go or A&E registration office. The refund will be arranged in approximately one month.

After receiving triage service and a preliminary medical assessment, if Triage Category III - V patients (Eligible Persons) who do not receive medical consultation apply for a refund through HA Go or registration office (within 24 hours after A&E registration), the A&E Department will refund $350 to the patient after deducting administrative costs.

In view of the forthcoming new A&E fees, a regularised refund mechanism would be introduced. Promulgation of publicity, including detailed information on the A&E fee reform and refund mechanism workflow, would be introduced to ensure that the public is well-informed.

The HA will introduce enhanced protection measures, include enhancing medical fee waiving mechanism, introducing an annual fee cap on inpatients and outpatients of $10,000, and relaxing eligibility criteria of means test for Samaritan Fund safety net application. While implementing the new A&E fee reform, the HA will continue to ensure that no one will be denied adequate medical care due to lack of means and will strengthen the protection of the public. For enquiry of medical protection measures or medical fee waiving mechanism, patient could contact the local Medical Social Service Units.

To ensure that citizens with urgent needs can receive timely services, A&E Departments implement a patient triage system under which patients are classified into five triage categories, namely Category I (Critical), Category II (Emergency), Category III (Urgent), Category IV (Semi-urgent), and Category V (Non-urgent) based on their clinical conditions, and will receive treatment as prioritised by their urgency category.

In general, the triage nurse will inform patients of their triage status. Should patients have any inquiries regarding their triage category, they may consult nursing staff at triage station.

Triage assessment is conducted by triage nurses, who determine triage category of patient after registration. If necessary, re-assessment may be performed to reflect the updated clinical condition of patient.

Under the implementation of new A&E fees, a regularised refund mechanism will be introduced. The final triage category reflects the patient condition right before consultation, and the refund process will be based on the final triage category. The triage category should remain unchanged once consultation has commenced to ensure accuracy and to facilitate appropriate A&E fee exemption or refund where applicable.

The triage category in the A&E Department is determined based on the patient’s clinical condition and urgency. The triage guideline, established by HA, are adjusted and reviewed timely according to international standards and local clinical practices that ensure patients receive appropriate care based on the severity of their conditions. Triage assessments are conducted by triage nurses or relevant healthcare professionals, with the triage category assigned after registration. If necessary, re-assessment may be performed to reflect the updated clinical condition of patient.

The triage system in A&E Department is designed to prioritise patient care based on urgency and severity of their conditions, ensuring that those with critical need can receive timely care.

Patients are assessed and triaged by triage nurses or relevant healthcare professionals with reference to the HA triage guidelines. If necessary, re-assessment may be performed to reflect the latest clinical condition of patient.

The primary objective of the A&E Department is to provide services for patients with urgent medical needs. During the triage assessment in A&E, Triage Categories I and II patients usually present with life-threatening conditions that require resuscitation facilities and multi-disciplinary care. A&E Departments of public hospitals are equipped with appropriate resuscitation facilities and medical support to deliver immediate, life-saving treatment to these patients.

Under the new A&E fee reform, Triage Categories I and II patients (Eligible Persons) will be exempted from A&E attendance fee. This measure is designed to enable A&E Departments to prioritise resources and provide acute medical care to those in critical need, while enhancing protections for critically ill patients.

Under the new A&E fees, a charge of $400 for Eligible Persons will be incurred to A&E 1st attendance, the charge covers the diagnostic services, such as radiology and pathology investigations, that may be required during the visit.

For any non-urgent radiology investigations or pathology investigations ordered at A&E (A&E 1st attendance and A&E follow-up attendance) and scheduled at a later date than A&E discharge date (i.e., patients are asked to return on another day for the examination), itemised charges will apply.

For pathology investigations ordered at A&E 1st attendance and performed within the same episode, investigation fees will be covered by the $400 A&E attendance fee for Eligible Persons.

For pathology investigations ordered at
1. A&E 1st attendance and scheduled at a later date than A&E discharge date OR;
2. A&E follow-up attendance (SOPC setting), The clinician will hand over the investigation reminder form and payment slip (applicable only if Tier 2 or 3 investigations are ordered) to the patient.

Patient shall bring along the payment slip for payment at the Shroff Office, Kiosk or HA Go. Payment must be settled or waived before the appointment date.

For urgent radiology investigations ordered at A&E 1st attendance and performed within the same episode, investigation fees will be covered by the $400 A&E attendance fee for Eligible Persons.

For non-urgent radiology investigations ordered at

1. A&E 1st attendance and scheduled at a later date than A&E discharge date OR;
2. A&E follow-up attendance (SOPC setting), The clinician will hand over the investigation reminder form and payment slip (applicable only if Tier 2 or 3 investigations are ordered) will be printed to the patient.

Patient shall bring along the payment slip for payment at the Shroff Office, Kiosk or HA Go. Radiology Department will then contact patients/ carers to offer the appointment date. Payment must be settled or waived before the appointment date.

A&E Departments can provide up to one-week medication in such cases while referring patients to relevant specialist clinics for further prescriptions.

In such cases, patients should be referred to the relevant SOPC for further prescriptions. For prescriptions with special approval, the supply can be extended up to four weeks, depending on the follow-up appointment date and the required treatment duration. If SOPCs are open, A&E should directly refer the case to the SOPC for drug refills.

As a general principle, if patients fail to respond to any calls for consultation within a period of time, subject to local workflow, the cases would be closed. Should patients subsequently re-attend A&E after case closed, they would be required for a new A&E registration, and the attendance fee for the new visit would not be eligible for waiver.

The triage category in the A&E Department is determined based on the patient’s clinical condition and urgency. The triage guidelines, established by HA, are adjusted and reviewed timely according to international standards and local clinical practices that ensuring that patients receive appropriate care based on the severity of their conditions. Triage assessments are conducted by triage nurses or relevant healthcare professionals, with the triage category assigned after registration. If necessary, a secondary triage assessment may be performed to reflect the updated clinical condition of patient.

Under the implementation of A&E fee increase, a regularised refund mechanism linked to triage categories will be introduced, regardless of whether the patient holds a referral letter.

If a patient is transferred from a rehabilitation hospital to an acute hospital or transferred between specialties via A&E Department, the A&E attendance fee would be waived in accordance with the prevailing mechanism.

Regarding the new A&E fee, patients are charged according to their final triage category before consultation.

Under the new charging scheme, for Eligible Persons, fee is exempted for all category I (critical) and category II (emergency) patients. Regarding Category I-II patients, if patient does not require hospitalisation, the fee will be refunded to the patient (no application is required); for patient admitted to hospital, fee will be offset with inpatient bills.

The NEW rate will apply, linked with A&E registration time, i.e. $400 for Eligible Persons (EP).

Starting from 1 January 2026, maintenance fee shall be levied on daily basis from day of admission with cut-off time at 12:00 midnight, and is based on the care type of the bed where the patient stays.
- Inpatient Services: Acute beds at $300 per day; Convalescent / Rehabilitation, Infirmary and Psychiatric beds at $200 per day

- Day Inpatient Services (Day Procedure and Treatment): Those admission to acute beds (i.e. with treatment at acute beds) and discharge within same day of admission (i.e. before midnight) at $250.

(The charges listed above are applicable to “Eligible Persons”.)

"Day procedure and treatment" fee is applicable to patient receiving treatment at acute bed and being discharged within the same day of admission (i.e. before midnight). Starting from 1 Jan 2026, for each attendance for “day procedure and treatment”, a fee of $250 shall be charged.

(The charges listed above are applicable to “Eligible Persons”.)

If the patient needs to be transferred to another hospital for treatment, it will be considered as one continuous course of care and treatment. Charging is based on the care type of the bed where the patient stays at midnight.

(The charges listed above are applicable to “Eligible Persons”.)

A standard message on the fees & charges will be incorporated in the appointment details in HA Go (i.e. Book FMC module) upon successful booking of Family Medicine Outpatient (FMOP) episodic appointment:
Eligible persons are charged $150 per consultation and $5 per drug item for the duration of 4 weeks drug supply as one charging unit.

For pathology investigation service, basic pathology services would not be charged for eligible persons (EP). Intermediate pathology services would be charged at $50 per item; advanced pathology services would not be provided by FMCs.

For non-urgent radiology investigations, basic radiology services would not be charged for EP. Intermediate and advanced radiology services such as Computed Tomography (CT) or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) (except for point-of-care ultrasound delivered during consultation session) would be provided at hospital Radiology Departments based on patients’ clinical needs and following Specialist Out-patient Clinics (SOPC) charging arrangement.

Each attendance at a FMC for dressing or injection service will incur a charge of $50 for Eligible Persons. Following prevailing arrangement, there is no additional charge if the dressing or injection is bundled with a medical consultation. Additionally, vaccinations provided under the Government Vaccination Programme (GVP) and COVID-19 vaccinations will follow the programme arrangement e.g. free of charge for eligible groups per prevailing arrangements.

In general, doctors in Family Medicine Clinic (FMC) would assess patients’ conditions and arrange investigation, prescription, treatment and care for patients based on clinical judgement. In case the patient indicated financial concern on the new fees, patients can consult medical fee assistance arrangements either via Medical Social Services Unit (MSSU) or designated service units of Social Welfare Department (SWD) (including Integrated Family Service Centres (IFSC)).

The charge for the bundled services in Family Medicine Clinic (FMC) will following prevailing arrangement, i.e. no additional charge for dressing or injection services bundled with a medical consultation; patients to be charged once only for each programme(s) participated in the same session (e.g. Nurse and Allied Health Programme, Risk Assessment and Management Programme, Integrated Mental Health Programme).

The NEW rate will apply. Charging is based on the date of registration of the attendance at specialist out-patient clinics or Family Medicine Outpatient (FMOP) attendance.

Effective from 1 January 2026, the Family Medicine Outpatient service fee for Eligible Persons is as follows:
- Consultation service: $150 per attendance; $5 per drug item (each chargeable unit covers a duration of 4 weeks per drug item);

- Dressing or Injection service: $50 per attendance;

- Non-urgent radiology service: Basic items are free of charge, while intermediate and advanced items are charged per item following Specialist Out-patient Clinics (SOPC) charging arrangement;

- Pathology service: Basic items are free of charge, while intermediate items are charged per item; advanced pathology services would not be provided by FMCs.

For details of fees and charges of HA services, please refer to HA’s website.

While the new drug charges will take effect on 1 January 2026, doctors will continue to prescribe appropriate and adequate quantities of medication based on professional diagnosis and the patient's clinical conditions. The quantity dispensed can be more than four weeks, but each drug will be charged in units calculated on a four-week basis. For example, if a patient is prescribed a drug for four weeks, they will need to pay for one chargeable unit. Similarly, if a patient is prescribed a drug for 24 weeks, they will be levied six chargeable units when collecting their medication, allowing them to receive all 24 weeks of drug in one go without the need for frequent visits to the hospital. Nevertheless, the pharmacy will handle the situation flexibly to accommodate the special needs of patients when appropriate.

The Government has been highly subsidizing the services provided by the Hospital Authority (HA) all along. To ensure medical resources can be precisely allocated to patients needed and reduce wastage, starting from 1 January 2026, the HA introduces co-payment models for non-urgent radiology services. This measure helps precisely allocate limited medical resources to more patients in need of urgent medical service.

The charges apply to non-urgent radiology services arranged through out-patient clinics, Accident & Emergency (A&E) follow-up appointments, day inpatient service, or upon discharge from inpatient care. Urgent radiology services for inpatients and A&E patients remain free of charge.

The tiered charge for non-urgent radiology services for Eligible Persons is as follows:

- **Basic Item:** X-ray (Free of charge)
- **Intermediate Item**: Fluoroscopy, Ultrasonography and Mammography ($250)
- **Advanced Item:** Computed Tomography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Breast Interventional Radiology, Angiography & Vascular Interventional Radiology, Non-vascular Interventional Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography ($500)

You will receive a payment request showing the related charges for non-urgent radiology services. After the consultation, you can choose to pay immediately with the payment request at the Shroff/Accounts Office or One-stop Electronic Kiosk in the hospital/clinic. Payment can also be made via HA Go. If you do not pay immediately and not a HA Go user, you will receive the bill by mail later.

In general, payment for non-urgent radiology services must be settled at least 14 calendar days before the appointment date.

If the payment is not fully settled before the "payment deadline", your appointment will be automatically cancelled and the appointment slot will be allocated to another patient. You are encouraged to settle the payment through the HA's existing payment methods (e.g., HA Go mobile application, One-stop Electronic Kiosk, Shroff/Accounts Office in the hospital/clinic).

To allow for payment processing time, at least three working days should be allowed if making payment through JETCO Automated Teller Machine (ATM) with "JET PAYMENT" signage/PPS/internet banking and either paper bills you received by mail or electronic bills in HA Go (if applicable) should be used for these payment methods. Crossed cheque/bank draft/cashier order by post should be made payable to "Hospital Authority" and post to the Shroff/Accounts Office of hospital stated on the payment requests/bills. Please write down patient name and Episode number and Generic Clinical Request System (GCRS) number/bill number (if applicable) at the back of the crossed cheque/bank draft/cashier order. Sufficient time should be allowed for mailing and payment processing.

Special Transitional Arrangements for patients with non-urgent radiology services appointments made before 1 January 2026 and receive the service on or after 1 January 2026:

- Electronic bills will be issued via HA Go for appointments on or after 1 January 2026. Non-HA Go users will gradually receive paper bills by mail.
- For appointments on or before 14 April 2026, patients can fully settle the payment before or on the day of service through HA Go, at the hospital Shroff/Accounts Office, or at a One-stop Electronic Kiosk. Regardless of the payment status, appointments will not be cancelled by the system.
- For appointments on 15 April 2026 (i.e. with the payment deadline on 1 April 2026) or other appointments scheduled afterwards, patients must settle the payment at least 14 calendar days before the appointment date. Otherwise, the appointment will be automatically cancelled by the system.

To cancel your non-urgent radiology services appointment, please submit the request at least 14 calendar days before the appointment date via HA Go, by mail, by fax, in person or by authorizing a representative to visit the Radiology Department to make the arrangements on your behalf (Application by telephone is not accepted). Corresponding paid fees will be refunded for the cancelled appointment.

If a cancellation request is made less than 14 calendar days before the appointment date, no refund will be arranged.

To defer your non-urgent radiology services appointment, please submit the request at least 14 calendar days before the appointment date via HA Go, by mail, by fax, in person or by authorizing a representative to visit the Radiology Department on your behalf to make the arrangements (Application by telephone is not accepted). Deferral requests initiated by patient can be made a maximum of 2 times.

If the patient does not settle the payment at least 14 calendar days before the non-urgent radiology services appointment date, the appointment will be automatically cancelled. The appointment slot will be allocated to another patient by the radiology department. If the patient would like to reschedule the appointment, the related clinician will assess the clinical condition to determine whether a new referral for radiology services is required. The radiology department will arrange a new appointment schedule.

If the non-urgent radiology services appointment is arranged in less than 14 calendar days, patient must settle the payment before receiving the service. The Radiology Department will contact patient or carer by telephone to confirm the appointment. Regardless of the payment status, the appointment will not be automatically cancelled by system.

If the patient does not settle the payment before the payment deadline of non-urgent radiology services, up to three payment reminders will be sent via HA Go before the deadline. The reminders will be issued on the 44th, 35th, and 15th days before the appointment date. For non-HA Go users, the Finance Department will send a paper bill by post as a payment reminder approximately on the 35th day before the appointment date as payment reminder.

If payment is not settled by the deadline i.e.14 calendar days before the non-urgent radiology services appointment date, the appointment will be automatically cancelled by the system. The patient will be notified via HA Go on the following day i.e. 13th day before the appointment date. For non-HA Go users, the Radiology Department will send notification by mail.

If patient is absent from the non-urgent radiology services appointment due to illness and do not want to defer the appointment, the patient can submit the valid medical certificate issued within Hong Kong (original/copy is acceptable) within one month after the appointment date by mail, by fax, in person, or by authorizing a representative. Upon receipt of the request, the Radiology Department will arrange with Finance Department for refund. Please note that only medical certificate issued by a registered medical practitioner, registered Chinese medicine practitioner or registered dentist within Hong Kong will be accepted.

Refund will be arranged for non-urgent radiology services under the following situations:

e.g.
- Patient cancel the appointment at least 14 calendar days before the appointment date.
- Patient's condition changes and the clinician determines that the radiology imaging service is no longer needed.
- The Radiologist determines that the patient is not suitable to receive the service.
- Patient is deemed unsuitable to receive the service on the day of the appointment (e.g., claustrophobia is identified during an MRI exam).
- The patient is unwell on the appointment date with a valid medical certificate issued within Hong Kong.
- Under special weather conditions (e.g., typhoon signal no. 8 or black rainstorm warning), radiology department will automatically postpone the appointments. Patients may also choose to receive a full refund.

The Government has been highly subsidising the services by the Hospital Authority (HA) all along. To ensure medical resources can be precisely allocated to patients in need and reduce wastage, starting from 1 January 2026, the HA introduces a co-payment model for pathology services, with a view to enhancing the sustainability of the public healthcare system and optimising the allocation of pathology services resources.

The fees and charges reform for pathology services will be applicable for specialist clinics (including integrated clinics and allied health clinics) and family medicine clinics (including integrated clinics), with effect from 1 January 2026.

The charging principle for pathology services is built on a tiered model and at per item of investigation to enhance the sustainability of the public healthcare system.

- **Basic:** For Eligible Persons, free of charge; covers most common blood tests and all non-blood pathology tests; as well as blood tests for diagnosis of statutory notifiable diseases / communicable diseases of topical public health concern.
- **Intermediate:** For Eligible Persons, $50 per item of investigation; includes less-common blood tests.
- **Advanced:** For Eligible Persons, $200 per item of investigation; includes sophisticated genetic blood tests.

Patients must settle the payment before attending their blood taking appointment.

The pathology service charge is itemised. Patients are required to pay for the testing fee even if no additional blood taking is needed as laboratory resources are consumed for testing and generating reports. Under the tiered charging model, the CBC is a basic item (free of charge for Eligible Persons), while the prolactin is an intermediate item ($50 per item of investigation for Eligible Persons). Therefore, the patient needs to pay for the applicable fee.

Patients can reschedule their appointment (date and time) through HA Go or at the corresponding clinic/blood taking station. No refund will be granted.

In the case where a patient has already paid for a pathology test requested by a specialist clinic clinician, and the test is subsequently cancelled by the clinician due to a change in the patient’s clinical condition, a refund will be granted for the patient.

- Patients who could not afford medical expense at the public sector can approach the Medical Social Service Units of public hospitals and clinics, Integrated Family Service Centers of Social Welfare Department (SWD) and other designated service units of SWD during office hours for enquiry or application.

- Since the medical appointments or relevant investigations, such as Specialist Out-Patient Clinics, Family Medicine Out-patient services, non-urgent radiology services and pathology services are scheduled appointments, patients are encouraged to apply waiver in advance.

- Applicants should complete the application form and submit relevant documents of patient and core family members living under the same roof who have been included in the financial assessment. Old Age Living Allowance recipients and patients with the above-mentioned family members holding valid Waiver are not required to submit all financial documents for assessment.

- Starting from the fourth quarter of 2025, applicants can upload the required documents for financial assessment, receive push notifications on key application progress and view application details via the HA Go Medical Fee Assistance App. The self-service application feature will be available from the third quarter of 2026 onwards.

- For detailed eligibility criteria and application procedures, please refer to the HA website on [Mechanism of Waiving of Medical Charges].

Medical fee waiver covers services including inpatient services, A&E, Specialist Out-Patient Department, day hospitals, Family Medicine Outpatient services, community services, injection and dressing, pathology services, and non-urgent radiology services in the Hospital Authority and Department of Health. For details, please refer to the HA website on [Mechanism of Waiving of Medical Charges].

For applications made on or after 1 Jan 2026, the maximum validity of a medical fee waiver is extended from 12 to 18 months. If a patient re-applies within 18 months, they only have to declare that the household financial conditions have no significant change, and there is no need to re-submit the financial documents for financial assessment. The medical fee waiver validity will be extended for up to 18 months from the application date of first approval. For details, please refer to the HA website on [Mechanism of Waiving of Medical Charges].

Follow the prevailing mechanism, the recipients of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance, Level 0 Voucher Holders of the Residential Care Service Voucher Scheme for the Elderly and Old Age Living Allowance (OALA) recipients aged 75 or above (including those recipients under the Guangdong Scheme and Fujian Scheme) under Social Welfare Department (SWD) will be waived from payment of public medical fees upon presentation of identity proof and claim their waiver eligibility status each time they register for consultation, and their waiver status could be confirmed through online eligibility checking.

Other than the above recipients of social security schemes, Patients who could not afford medical expense at the public sector can apply for a medical fee waiver at the Medical Social Service Units of public hospitals and clinics, Integrated Family Service Centers of SWD and other designated service units of SWD.

Starting from 1 Jan 2026, OALA recipients aged 74 or below can submit waiver application with OALA payment proof as supporting document for their OALA eligibility and the below documents can be waived during financial assessment:

You can use the Means Test Calculator on the Hospital Authority website or HA Go App to conduct a preliminary assessment of household financial eligibility of Medical Fee Waiver and Samaritan Fund.
- [Medical Fee Waiving Means Test Calculator (Applicable to current applications)]
- [Samaritan Fund / Community Care Fund Medical Assistance Programmes Means Test Calculator (Applicable to current applications)]
- [Medical Fee Waiving / Samaritan Fund Means Test Calculator (For applications since 1 Jan 2026)]
- [HA Go website on Medical Fee Assistance]

- During application, provide complete, accurate, true and up-to-date information

- Within the validity period of the financial assistance, report any changes in the particulars in the application that may affect the eligibility for financial assistance and provide necessary information to the Hospital Authority or Social Welfare Department

- Provision of incomplete, inaccurate, not up-to-date or false information may result in rejection of the application, and/or criminal prosecution

- For details, please refer to the HA website on [Mechanism of Waiving of Medical Charges] and [Samaritan Fund]

Patients currently holding medical fee waiver certificates (full or partial) can continue using them until expiry without reapplication. Patients with partial fee waiver certificates who qualify for full waivers under the enhanced mechanism can obtain full waivers by declaring no significant change in financial status at Medical Social Services (Medical Fee Waiving) Designated Teams three months before appointments or within three months after hospitalisation, without requiring reassessment. The validity will be the same as the original certificate’s expiry date. For details, please refer to the HA website on [Mechanism of Waiving of Medical Charges].

In order to reduce the processing time of applications and the waiting time of patients, starting from the 3rd of November 2025, patients with appointments at public hospitals in January or February in 2026 can submit the required documentation to the Medical Social Services (Medical Fee Waiving) Designated Teams two months in advance. Applications will be pre-assessed, and eligible patients will receive the medical fee waiver certificates before their follow-up appointments after the public healthcare fees and charges reform takes effect on 1 January 2026. For details, please refer to the HA website on [Mechanism of Waiving of Medical Charges].

If you require same-day or urgent treatment but cannot afford the medical expense at the public sector, and you realise the new charges just before the appointment but cannot provide complete documentation for financial assessment, you may approach the Medical Social Services (Medical Fee Waiving) Designated Teams for waiver application. Patients are required to sign a declaration stating their financial conditions in order to receive a “conditional waiver” valid for three months. However, patients must submit all required documents for financial assessment to the Medical Social Services (Medical Fee Waiving) Designated Teams within the three-month validity period of the “conditional waiver”. An official waiver certificate will be issued to eligible patients and will supersede the Conditional Waiver certificate. If patients are unable to submit the required documents within the validity period or do not meet the eligibility criteria, they must settle all outstanding bills or non-entitled waived fees, if any. For details, please refer to the HA website on [Mechanism of Waiving of Medical Charges].

- The HA all along provides subsidy to needy patients to purchase specified self-financed and expensive drugs or medical items through Samaritan Fund (SF) or Community Care Fund (CCF) Medical Assistance Programmes. Following the established referral and application procedures, for HA patients who wish to apply for subsidy for drugs or medical items under the coverage of CCF / SF, they must be assessed by attending doctor based on their clinical conditions on whether the clinical requirements of specified drug / medical item and its clinical indication under the coverage of the fund are fulfilled by the patients. Patients who meet the clinical requirements of the fund would be referred to the Medical Social Workers for conducting financial assessment to determine their financial eligibility and the subsidy amount, and arranging the submission of application if appropriate.

- For details of your treatment plan in the public hospital, and whether you are eligible for financial assistance for the self-financed drug if needed, please consult your attending doctor during consultation.

- For details, please refer to the HA website on [Samaritan Fund] and [Community Care Fund Medical Assistance Programmes].

Relaxation of means test criteria is only applicable to Samaritan Fund (SF) applications approved on or after 1 January 2026. Having said that, we will continue to review SF / CCF medical assistance programmes based on the principles of rational use of public resources and targeted subsidy. This includes exploring ways to include more CCF drugs/medical devices proven to be of significant benefits to the regular scope of SF assistance after the relaxation, using those gained from the public healthcare fees and charges reform, to better support patients requiring application of drug subsidy in long run. For details, please refer to the HA website on [Samaritan Fund] and [Community Care Fund Medical Assistance Programmes].

The eligibility criteria for applying Annual Spending Cap include:
- Be an Eligible Person* throughout the entire period of accumulating eligible medical fees and charges and during the application process;

- Have no outstanding eligible medical fees;

- Eligible public medical fees and charges only include those billed between 1 January and 31 December of each year, and fully paid upon submission of the application. The cumulative amount for the year must reach or exceed $10,000.

For details about the eligibility criteria, please visit HA Website on [Annual Spending Cap]. For any inquiries, patients or applicants may contact the shroff office at any hospital.

*According to the Gazette, "Eligible Persons" are holders of Hong Kong Identity Card issued under the Registration of Persons Ordinance (Chapter 177), except those who obtained their Hong Kong Identity Card by virtue of a previous permission to land or remain in Hong Kong granted to them and such permission has expired or ceased to be valid. Persons who are not Eligible Persons are classified as Non-eligible Persons.

Eligible medical fees and charges covered by the “Annual Spending Cap” include but not limited to the following public medical service charges:
- Inpatient service
- Day hospital / day procedure
- Accident & Emergency service
- Specialist out-patient service
- Family Medicine out-patient service
- Pathology and radiology services
- Standard drugs
- Community service
- Public-Private Partnership Programmes (PPP), which are set at same level of the fees and charges for the equivalent services provided by HA, including General Outpatient Clinic PPP, Project on Enhancing Radiological Investigation Services through Collaboration with the Private Sector and Haemodialysis PPP, etc.

(Please note that charges for self-financed drugs and medical devices are excluded. For details about the Eligible Public Healthcare Services, please visit HA Website on [Annual Spending Cap].)

For checking of the cumulative valid annual spending, patients may log in to HA Go, or visit the one-stop electronic kiosks or shroff office at any hospital.

HA Go users can access Annual Spending Cap details by selecting “Payment” and then navigating to the “More” page located on the right side of the bottom toolbar.

For more information on Annual Spending Cap, please visit HA Website on [Annual Spending Cap].

Even if the eligible medical fees and charges from 2025 are included in a bill issued in January 2026, the payment will not be counted toward the cumulative valid annual spending under the 2026 Annual Spending Cap. Since this measure takes effect on 1 January 2026, only eligible medical fees and charges for services provided on or after 1 January 2026, and fully paid at the time of application, will be counted.

For more information on Annual Spending Cap, please visit HA Website on [Annual Spending Cap].

The eligibility for the Annual Spending Cap is not granted automatically. Patients must submit an application via HA Go or at any hospital’s shroff office once their cumulative valid annual spending reached $10,000. Applications are accepted on a calendar-year basis starting from 1 January, till 31 March of the following calendar year. Late applications will not be accepted.

If the patient is granted with Annual Spending Cap after assessment, no further payment for eligible medical fees and charges will be required for the application calendar year, provided that the patient declares his eligibility at the time of registration for medical services with system verification. Please note that to be eligible for Annual Spending Cap, patients must remain an Eligible Person throughout the entire period.

For more information on Annual Spending Cap, please visit HA Website on [Annual Spending Cap].

It depends on the application channel for the Annual Spending Cap used by the patient. For applications submitted via the HA Go mobile application, the application result will be communicated to the patients via electronic notifications. For those submitted in person at hospital shroff offices, the result will be communicated to the patient by post.

For more information on Annual Spending Cap, please visit HA Website on [Annual Spending Cap].

The general Annual Spending Cap application processing time is approximately 14 calendar days. Where more time is required to process the application, an interim reply will be sent to the patient via HA Go if the application is submitted through HA Go, or by post if submitted at hospitals’ shroff offices.

For more information on Annual Spending Cap, please visit HA Website on [Annual Spending Cap].

Any payment made beyond the Annual Spending Cap of $10,000 prior to the approval of Annual Spending Cap, will be carried over to subsequent years to cover eligible medical fees and charges without expiration date. This amount will be included in the cumulative annual spending of that year. Under exceptional circumstances (e.g. deceased patients), applicants may inform hospital for the refund arrangement at the time of application.

For more information on Annual Spending Cap, please visit HA Website on [Annual Spending Cap].

Patients receiving a partial medical fee waiver are required to pay for the remaining medical fees, and they can apply for the Annual Spending Cap once their cumulative valid annual spending reached $10,000.

If the patient is granted with Annual Spending Cap after review, no further payment for eligible medical fees and charges will be required for the application calendar year, provided that the patient declares his Annual Spending Cap eligibility before registration or provision of medical services with system verification.

For more information on Annual Spending Cap, please visit HA Website on [Annual Spending Cap].

For HA Go users, registered carer can complete the online application if the patient meets the eligibility criteria. In addition, other persons may also submit an application on behalf of the patient.

HA Go users can access Annual Spending Cap details by selecting “Payment” and then navigating to the “More” page located on the right side of the bottom toolbar.

For more information on Annual Spending Cap, please visit HA Website on [Annual Spending Cap].

The Annual Spending Cap serves as a second safety net, designed to help citizens alleviate the heavy financial burden of medical expenses arising from sudden severe illnesses or chronic illnesses.

Since this measure involves public funds, it should be properly utilised to assist those "genuinely in need." Therefore, citizens are required to apply on a need basis.

For more information on Annual Spending Cap, please visit HA Website on [Annual Spending Cap].

Patients who met the eligibility criteria may submit their Annual Spending Cap applications via mobile application HA Go or at hospitals’ shroff offices once their cumulative annual spending reached $10,000. The result of the application will be provided to patients via the application submission channels.

HA Go users can access Annual Spending Cap details by selecting “Payment” and then navigating to the “More” page located on the right side of the bottom toolbar.

For more information on Annual Spending Cap, please visit HA Website on [Annual Spending Cap].

With effect from 1 January 2026, the Hospital Authority (HA) implements charging for mortuary service based on the total number of storage days.

Fees are charged based on the number of days of storage. Charging details are as follows:

The next-of-kin or representative of the deceased should settle the payment on the date of body collection. If payment is not made on same day, a bill will be mailed to the patient’s registered address later. Payment can be made anytime via “HA Go” or Shroff or the One-stop Electronic Kiosk.

During the initial phase of the charge arrangement, HA will implement special transitional arrangement for those deceased who have been stored in HA mortuary on or before 31 December 2025. The next-of-kin or representative of the deceased can submit an advance application for a transitional exemption, which includes:
- Waiver of the mortuary charge from 1 to 28 January 2026; and
- Adjustment of the mortuary charge to $200 per day from 29 January to 4 February 2026 ; $550 per day thereafter.
The adjusted chargeable amount will be shown on bill.

Currently certain HA Public-Private Partnership Programmes are charging participating patients standard fees and charges stipulated in the Gazette. Starting from 1 January 2026, all existing patients, together with newly participating patients in these programmes, will have to pay the same HA standard fees and charges effective on 1 January 2026 as stipulated in the Gazette.

After the public healthcare fees and charges reform takes effect in January 2026, the Tung Wah Group will continue its mission of providing free outpatient service to those in need. Eligible Persons* seeking outpatient services at Tung Wah Eastern Hospital, Tung Wah Hospital and Kwong Wah Hospital will continue to be exempted from the following fees:
- Attendance and prescription fee at Family Medicine Clinics (excluding integrated clinics) (applicable to all Eligible Persons)

- Attendance fee at Specialist Outpatient Clinics (excluding integrated clinic and allied health clinics) (applicable only to Eligible Persons aged 75 or above, or aged 12 or below)

*Patients falling into the following categories are eligible for the rates of charges applicable to "Eligible Persons":
- holders of Hong Kong Identity Card issued under the Registration of Persons Ordinance (Chapter 177), except those who obtained their Hong Kong Identity Card by virtue of a previous permission to land or remain in Hong Kong granted to them and such permission has expired or ceased to be valid;

- children who are Hong Kong residents and under 11 years of age; or

- other persons approved by the Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority.

For pneumoconiosis or mesothelioma sufferers claiming under the Pneumoconiosis Compensation Fund Board (PCFB) / Pneumoconiosis and Mesothelioma (Compensation) Ordinance (PMCO), effective from 1 January 2026, the maximum daily rate of medical expenses for out-patient treatment under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance (ECO) and the PMCO will be increased from $300 to $500 and the maximum daily rate of medical expenses for in-patient and out-patient treatment received on the same day from $370 to $700, while maintaining the maximum daily rate of medical expenses for in-patient treatment at $300.

Irrespective of the appointment booking date or deposit / prepayment date, patient shall pay the NEW rates as long as the services (hospitalisation, laboratory or radiology services, etc.) are rendered on or after 1 January 2026. Patient may need to top up the deposit or service fees if required.

For services designated to be paid up front (e.g. Accident & Emergency service, outpatient clinics), cutoff is based on the time of registration.

For non-urgent Radiology appointments made before 1 January 2026, with attendances scheduled on or after 1 January 2026, new charges will be applied as per the Gazette.

For pathology services received on or after 1 January 2026, NEW rates will be applied.

For services designated to be billed during and after service rendered:
- e.g. inpatient services, community services - charge according to the date of service
- e.g. standard drug charge – based on the time of drug prescription

The cutoff for NEW fees & charges is based on the time of request lodged. For request for personal data, certificates, medical reports, and other records, etc., if application is made by post, reference should be made to the date affixed in the post office’s chop; if the submission is made by email / fax, reference should be made to the receipt date and time printed on the email and fax. For self-financed drugs handling charge, NEW rate will be applied to the Invoice for Sale of Medication generated on or after 1 January 2026.

Civil service eligible person (CSEPs) are entitled to medical and dental treatment and services that are provided by the Department of Health (DH) or the Hospital Authority (HA) free of charge, save for the charges applicable to hospital maintenance, dentures and dental appliances as provided for in the Civil Service Regulations (CSRs).

Civil service eligible person (CSEPs) are entitled to medical and dental treatment and services that are provided by the Department of Health (DH) or the Hospital Authority (HA) free of charge, save for the charges applicable to hospital maintenance, dentures and dental appliances as provided for in the Civil Service Regulations (CSRs). CSEPs are entitled to family medicine outpatient services free of charge.

Civil service eligible person (CSEPs) admitted to HA hospitals are required to pay hospital maintenance fees as stipulated in relevant Civil Service Regulations (CSRs). The hospital maintenance fees are the same for all kinds of CSEPs

Hospital maintenance fees as stipulated in relevant CSRs

The revised hospital maintenance fees to be implemented by HA starting from 1 January 2026 will only apply to members of the public. CSEPs admitted to HA hospitals on or after 1 January 2026 will still only be required to pay hospital maintenance fees as currently stipulated in relevant CSRs. Civil Service Bureau is currently reviewing the hospital maintenance fees applicable to CSEPs, and will inform HA to implement the revised hospital maintenance fees applicable to CSEPs once the review is completed.

Civil service eligible person (CSEPs) who have met the eligibility criteria can apply for Annual Spending Cap. Upon successful application, such patient will not be required to pay for any further Eligible Medical Fees and Charges for that calendar year.

Details of Annual Spending Cap

Civil service eligible person (CSEPs) are entitled to medical and dental treatment and services that are provided by the Department of Health (DH) or the Hospital Authority (HA) free of charge, save for the charges applicable to hospital maintenance, dentures and dental appliances as provided for in the Civil Service Regulations (CSRs). Pathology service charge is not applicable to CSEPs.