Body Check Explained: Compare Health Screening Packages in Hong Kong

When to get a body check?

Although Hong Kong does not have an official recommendation for health checkups, several countries recommend having a basic body check every year after the age of 18 and a more comprehensive checkup every few years. Getting married, having children, changing jobs and reaching other important milestones in life are also good reasons to get an in-depth checkup.

What is the frequency of specific tests?

Check out our previous article for a suggested screening frequency of specific tests at different ages.

What’s included in a body check?

A basic body check usually includes a number of tests for common diseases. Here we explain some common tests to help you understand what each of them is for.

Imaging tests 
 

Cancer screening

The “three hypers” tests (hypertension, hyperglycemia and hypercholesterolemia)

Other tests

How to choose body check packages?

More comprehensive body check packages are likely to cost more. But a more expensive package does not necessarily mean better. What matters the most is finding a body check package that best suits your needs to cover tests for diseases that you have a higher risk of and haven’t been recently screened for.
 

The risk factors for diseases include your age, sex, your personal and family medical history, and your lifestyle. For example, smoking increases the risk of having lung cancer. If you are aged 50 to 80 and smoke more than 20 packs per year, consider having a chest X-Ray to check for lung cancer every year. According to the Cancer Online Resource Hub, individuals with hereditary bowel diseases (e.g. familial adenomatous polyposis (“FAP”) or Lynch Syndrome), persistent inflammation of the bowel (e.g. ulcerative colitis, history of colonic polyps), and family history of colorectal cancer, particularly in first-degree relatives, have a higher risk of having colorectal cancer. If you have the above conditions, consider having a colonoscopy every 5 years. Talk to your family doctor for recommendations of body check items and a personalized body check plan.
 

Note that, however, if you already have symptoms of a disease, please do not wait until your next body check and visit a doctor right away. Health checkups should only be used as a screening test for asymptomatic people. 

Compare private body check packages: costs and test items

Body check packages provided by the private sector can be more flexible on the time and also the combination of tests included. We list some options below to help you save time!

* Please visit the provider’s website or contact them beforehand for any promotional discounts.
 

** Some service providers may have more branches despite that only one of them is listed below. You may visit their own websites for contact information of the other locations.

Body check plans for men

Body check plans for women

Pre-marital plans

*All amounts are in HKD. No responsibility is accepted for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. It is always best to call ahead to ensure the information is still up-to-date.

List of government-subsidized body checks

Alternatively, the government provides subsidies for a few body check programs to offer affordable screening options to the public. These programs focus on colorectal cancer, cervical cancer, breast cancer and other health risks.

Colorectal Cancer Screening Programme

If you are a Hong Kong residents aged between 50 and 75 and do not have any symptoms of colorectal cancer, you can receive screening services in the private sector for preventive purpose with the subsidy from the Government’s Colorectal Cancer Screening Programme.

To join the Programme, you must fulfill the following criteria:

• Aged between 50 and 75
• Hold a Hong Kong Identity Card or Certificate of Exemption
• Registered in the Electronic Health Record Sharing System (eHRSS)
• Do not have symptoms of colorectal cancer, higher colorectal cancer risk, or screening/examination for colorectal cancer within a specified period

The government subsidizes most of the fees, but you may need to make a co-payment (<HK$300 for each PCD consultation and <$1,000 for a colonoscopy) depending on the service provider you choose.  Check the Programme details to learn more.

Cervical Screening Programme

Women aged at or above 25 who have any sex experience are encouraged to undergo regular cervical screening. In Hong Kong, you can get cervical screening services from family doctors, gynecologists, non-governmental organizations, Maternal and Child Health Centres (MCHCs) and Woman Health Centres (WHCs) of the Department of Health (DH). The fees at MCHCs for eligible persons (HKID holders) is HK$100. You can search for the list of cervical screening service providers here. Please contact the service provider for the pricing and appointments.

Woman Health Service by the Department of Health

Woman Health Service is mainly offered at the three Woman Health Centres (WHCs) and three selected Maternal and Child Health Centres (MCHCs) in certain sessions.

The Service includes:

• Health assessment
• Detailed nursing interview and medical consultation for health risk assessment of some common chronic diseases, e.g. hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, as well as colorectal, cervical and breast cancers
• Body weight, height, waist circumference, blood pressure and physical examination
• Blood tests, colorectal, cervical and breast cancer screenings and other investigations are offered based on individual needs and risk assessment
• Health education and individual counseling
• Promotion of healthy lifestyle practices and weight management
• Breast awareness and other cancer prevention
• Menstrual concerns
• Sexual health
• Psychosocial health
• Other specific issues based on individual needs

The annual fee for an eligible person (HKID holder) is HK$310. More details on the charges, and contact details of the centres can be found here.
 

Mammography

Women aged 40–74 or with risk factors of breast cancer should consider doing a mammogram every 2 years (or as your doctor suggests). The fee for women who have joined the Woman Health Service is $225 (eligible persons). The same service is available to members of Elderly Health Centres (see below) at the same price.

Elderly Health Centres

The government’s Elderly Health Centres provide health screening, medical treatment, injection and dressing to senior citizens aged 65 at a relatively low price. You must enroll as a member to use the service. However, since the turnover of members is not high, new applicants may have to wait longer before they can complete enrollment. See the waiting time for each EHC here.

The Family Planning Association of Hong Kong (FPAHK)

The FPAHK provides Women's Health Check-up, Men's Health Check-up and Pre-marital Check-up at affordable price. 

A Women's Health Check-up includes taking of medical history, general physical examination (measurement of blood pressure, pulse rate, body weight and height; examination of the thyroid, abdomen, breasts and pelvis; auscultation of heart and lung), urine analysis (for glucose and protein), Pap test (where appropriate) and teaching breast self-examination. The fee is HK$565 (with Pap test) / HK$280 (without Pap test).
 

Women's Health Check-up is also offered in Youth Health Care at HK$435 (Entitled persons) / $585 (Non-entitled persons).

A Men's Health Check-up includes taking of medical history, general physical examination (measurement of blood pressure, pulse rate, body weight and height; examination of the thyroid, abdomen, testis and penis; auscultation of heart and lung), urine analysis (for glucose and protein), peak expiratory flow rate and digital rectal examination (where appropriate). The fee is HK$280.

The fee of a Pre-marital Check-up varies from HK$750 to $6,000 based on the service content. Visit here for more details.

*All amounts are in HKD. No responsibility is accepted for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. It is always best to call ahead to ensure the information is still up-to-date.

Please note that the waiting time for government-subsidized body checks may be longer and the choices for appointment time may be limited. 

Are health checkups covered by health insurance?

Comprehensive health insurance plans in Hong Kong usually cover health check-ups under the outpatient benefits. But they may imposes monetary limits ranging between US$500 and $2,000 and additional time limits. For instance, an insurance plan may cover health check-ups for up to US$1,000 every 3 years. 

Some insurance plan, employers and credit cards offer free or significantly-discounted body checks. Make sure to check with your insurance provider or read through your group medical policy for any terms and conditions before using the benefit.