Health system
1. Are there any vaccinations I should get or any other health precautions I should take as I prepare to move to Hong Kong?
2. What should I know about seeking medical care in Hong Kong?
3. What is the word for "doctor" in Cantonese?
4. What is the best way to locate a suitable health care provider?
5. Do expats tend to leave Hong Kong to seek medical care?
6. What are the emergency numbers I need to know?
7. How will I recognise a pharmacy? What is it called in Cantonese?
8. Is the water safe to drink?
9. Useful links
10. List of private hospitals
11. List of public hospitals
Disclaimer: Crown relocations is the main contributor in this section. Although Crown Relocations has made every effort to present accurate information, regulations, rates and other variables are subject to change and Crown Relocations and Square Foot Limited cannot accept responsibility for the errors that might result.
1. Are there any vaccinations I should get or any other health precautions I should take as I prepare for my move to Hong Kong?
There are no required vaccinations. Most medical practices recommend you get vaccinated against Hepatitis B.
2. What should I know about seeking medical care in Hong Kong as an expat?
Anyone holding a Hong Kong Identity Card (HKID) card is eligible for public healthcare services provided by the Hospital Authority. You will still receive treatment without an HKID card, but the charges will be different.
There are also private hospitals available in Hong Kong that provide healthcare services. Prices vary among these hospitals.
3. What is the word for "doctor" in Cantonese?
Doctor for Western treatment - 'Yee Sang'. Doctor for Chinese treatment - 'Chung Yee'.
4. What is the best way to locate a suitable healthcare provider?
You need to check with your company / healthcare provider whether your coverage is applicable to any medical practitioner or is limited to a list of pre-selected practitioners.
5. Do expats tend to leave Hong Kong to seek medical care?
No. Hong Kong has good medical facilities available, and there are many Western-trained physicians, if that's who you feel more comfortable with.
6. What are the emergency numbers I need to know?
Emergency Services Hotline: 999
China Light & Power Emergency: 2728 8333
Gas Leakage Emergency: 2435 4511
Typhoon Signal Enquiries: 2835 1475
Water Faults Report: 2824 5000
In order for patients to be provided with timely treatment, all patients in public hospitals are subject to triage on arrival. Whenever a patient registers for treatment, the triage nurse classifies the patient as requiring critical, emergency, urgent, semi-urgent or non-urgent treatment. Priority for treatment is given to the patient according to his or her condition, not according to the time of registration.
7. How will I recognise a pharmacy? What is it called in Cantonese?
Pharmacies in Hong Kong are run in much the same way as in western countries, with certain pharmacies open 24 hours daily. These are usually found as part of a hospital or clinic and generally will carry only prescription medication.
Regular business hours for pharmacies are from 10am to 7pm. Most pharmacies have the "Rx" symbol on their storefront. Watson's and Manning's are reliable chains.
Pharmacy in Cantonese is 'Yuek Fong'.
8. Is the water safe to drink?
It is always a good idea to boil tap water for drinking. Hong Kong's tap water has a slight smell of chlorine. This is because a small amount of residual chlorine is maintained in the water to keep it free from bacterial infection during its journey from treatment works, through high-rise roof tanks, to the taps. This minimal amount of chlorine will disappear once the water is boiled.
Alternatively, bottled water - still, sparkling, mineral and distilled - is readily available at grocery stores.
9. Useful links
Department of Health
www.info.gov.hk/dh/index.htm
Directory of registered doctors in Hong Kong
www.hkdoctors.org/
Hong Kong Medical Association
www.hkma.com.hk/index.htm
Hospital Authority
www.ha.org.hk
10. Listing of all private hospitals
Private Hospitals
Baptist Hospital
222 Waterloo Rd, Kowloon
T: 2339 8888
www.hkbh.org.hk/
Canossa Hospital (Caritas)
1 Old Peak Rd, The Peak
T: 2522 2181
www.canossahospital.org.hk/
Hong Kong Adventist Hospital
40 Stubbs Rd, Happy Valley
T: 3651 8888
www.hkah.org.hk/
Hong Kong Central Hospital
One Lower Albert Rd, Central
T: 2522 3141
www.hkch.org/
Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital
2 Village Rd, Happy Valley
T: 2572 0211
www.hksh.com/
Matilda Hospital 41 Mount Kellett Rd, The Peak
T: 2849 0111
www.matilda.org/
11. Listing of all public hospitals
Public hospitals on Hong Kong Island
Cheshire Home
128 Chung Hom Kok Rd, Chung Hom Kok
T: 2813 9823
www.ha.org.hk/
Duchess of Kent Children's Hospital
12 Sandy Bay Rd, Pokfulam
T: 2817 7111
www.ha.org.hk/
Grantham Hospital
125 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Aberdeen
T: 2518 2111
www.ha.org.hk/
Fung Yiu King Hospital
9 Sandy Bay Rd, Pokfulam
T: 2855 6111
www.ha.org.hk/
MacLehose Medical Rehabilitation Centre
7 Sha Wan Drive, Pokfulam
T: 2817 0018
www.ha.org.hk/
Nam Long Hospital
30 Nam Long Shan Rd, Wong Chuk Hang
T: 2903 0000
www.ha.org.hk/
Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital
3 Lok Man Rd, Chai Wan
T: 2595 6111
www.ha.org.hk/
Queen Mary Hospital
102 Pok Fu Lam Rd, Pokfulam
T: 2855 3838
www.ha.org.hk/
Ruttonjee Hospital
266 Queen's Rd East, Wan Chai
T: 2291 2000
www.ha.org.hk/
St John Hospital
Cheung Chau Hospital Rd, Tung Wan, Cheung Chau
T: 2981 9441
www.ha.org.hk/
Tang Shiu Kin Hospital
282 Queen's Rd East, Wan Chai
T: 2291 2000
www.ha.org.hk/
Tsan Yuk Hospital
30 Hospital Rd, Sai Ying Pun
T: 2589 2100
www.ha.org.hk/
Tung Wah Hospital
12 Po Yan St, Sheung Wan
T: 2589 8111
www.ha.org.hk/
Tung Wah Eastern Hospital
19 Eastern Hospital Rd, Causeway Bay
T: 2162 6888
www.ha.org.hk/
Public Hospitals on Kowloon-side
Hong Kong Buddhist Hospital
10 Heng Lam St, Lok Fu
T: 2339 6111
www.ha.org.hk/
Hong Kong Eye Hospital
147K Argyle St
T: 2762 3007
www.ha.org.hk/
Kowloon Hospital
147A Argyle St
T: 3129 7111
www.ha.org.hk/
Kwong Wah Hospital
25 Waterloo Rd
T: 2332 2311
http://ha.org.hk/
Our Lady of Maryknoll Hospital
118 Shatin Pass Rd, Wong Tai Sin
T: 2320 2121
http://ha.org.hk/
Queen Elizabeth Hospital
30 Gascoigne Rd
T: 2958 8888
http://ha.org.hk/
Tseung Kwan O Hospital
2 Po Ning Lane, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O
T: 2208 1259
http://ha.org.hk/
United Christian Hospital
130 Hip Wo St, Kwun Tong
T: 3513 4000
http://ha.org.hk/
Wong Tai Sin Hospital
124 Shatin Pass Rd
T: 2320 0377
http://ha.org.hk/
Public Hospitals in the New Territories
Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital
11 Chuen On Rd, Tai Po
T: 2689 2000
www.ha.org.hk/
Bradbury Hospice
17A Kung Kok Shan Rd, Shatin
T: 2636 0163
www.ha.org.hk/
Castle Peak Hospital
15 Tsing Chung Koon Rd, Tuen Mun
T: 2456 7111
www.ha.org.hk/
Caritas Medical Centre
111 Wing Hong St, Shamshuipo
T: 3408 7911
www.ha.org.hk/
Cheshire Home, Shatin
30A Kung Kok Shan Rd, Shatin
T: 2636 7288
www.ha.org.hk/
Kwai Chung Hospital
3-15 Hospital Rd, Kwai Chung
T: 2990 3000
www.ha.org.hk/
North District Hospital
9 Po Kin Rd, Sheung Shui
T: 2683 8888
www.ha.org.hk/
Pok Oi Hospital
Au Tau, Yuen Long
T: 2486 8000
www.ha.org.hk/
Prince of Wales Hospital
30-32 Ngan Shing St, Shatin
T: 2632 2211
www.ha.org.hk/
Princess Margaret Hospital
2-10 Princess Margaret Hospital Rd
T: 2990 1111
www.ha.org.hk/
Shatin Hospital
33 A Kung Kok St, Ma On Shan
T: 2636 7500
www.ha.org.hk/
Tai Po Hospital
9 Chuen On Rd, Tai Po
T: 2607 6333
www.ha.org.hk/
Tuen Mun Hospital
Tsing Chun Koon Rd, Tuen Mun
T: 2468 5111
www.ha.org.hk/
Yan Chai Hospital
7-11 Yan Chai St, Tsuen Wan
T: 2417 8383
www.ha.org.hk/
