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A general practitioner (or a GP) is usually your first point of contact when you feel unwell. Learn more about what a general practitioner does, their qualifications, consultation costs, insurance coverage and where to find them in Hong Kong.
A general practitioner’s duties are not confined to a particular field of medicine. General practitioners treat acute non-life-threatening diseases, take care of chronic illness patients, detect and refer patients with serious diseases for specialist treatments, and provide preventive care and health education.
A medical graduate in Hong Kong can become a general practitioner after working in a resident medical capacity in approved hospitals for a period of not less than 12 months, passing the Licensing Examination and completing a period of assessment in approved hospitals as determined by the Medical Council.
See a general practitioner when you feel unwell. Some patients may prefer skipping primary health care and seeking a specialist doctor directly for more specific treatments. However, without the medical knowledge to determine the exact cause of the symptoms, it is not easy to know which specialty to consult and whether further care is necessary from a specialist.
For example, one may want to see a gastroenterologist for abdominal pain, but abdominal pain can indicate heart disease, anxiety, depression, or even shingles, each requiring different medical attention. The best option is to go through a general practitioner for primary screening and a referral to the right specialist. Also, if you are visiting different specialists for different health conditions, a general practitioner can act as a coordinator to communicate with all specialists to make sure you receive the most appropriate treatments.
Even if you are not sick or injured, a general practitioner can still offer services such as:
Family medicine specialists, or more commonly called “family doctors”, are also primary care physicians. Many people struggle to distinguish between family medicine specialists and general practitioners. As its name suggests, family medicine specialists are specialty doctors who received additional training (at least 6 years of vocational training) in family medicine after they earned the qualification as a general practitioner.
Family medicine specialists aim to build a long-term relationship with patients and provide “holistic care” – tending to a patient’s physical, psychological and social health. For a patient seeking help with STDs who also suffers psychological stress from family conflicts, a family medicine specialist may refer the case to a social hygiene clinic for screening and treating of STDs, prescribe antidepressants and provide counseling, as well as help contacting social workers regarding housing and family issues.
General outpatient service is available in all public hospitals and this list of public general outpatient clinics and health centers in Hong Kong.
Clinics
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Details
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Address: Room 511, Yip Fung Building,
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Address: Rm 201, Kin Tak Fung Comercial Building,
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Address: Shop B, G/F, Pine Manor,
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Address: G/F, 30 Waterloo Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon
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Rodrigues Albert Edward Clinic
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Address: Room 1311, Central Building,
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Address: Shop 19, Shopping Centre, Wan Tau Tong Estate,
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Address: 5/F, 163 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong Island
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Address: Room 1311, 13/F, Central Building,
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You can search for General practitioners according to their locations here.
Public sector fees: For eligible HKID-holders, the price of visiting general outpatient clinics is HK$50 per attendance.
Private sector fees: According to our research, the consultation fees of a general practitioner in the private sector range from HK$180 to over $1,000, excluding costs of special drugs, treatments or laboratory tests. The costs depend on the time you visit the general practitioner (more expensive during non-office hours).
According to Alea, general practitioner consultations are covered under outpatient coverage. Generally, local plans will have a limit on the number of visits and often on the amount. International private medical insurance plans will include general practitioners under outpatient benefits and fully cover up to the annual limits or the outpatient limits. If you have any health insurance questions or looking to maximize your coverage, contact an expert at Alea at [email protected].
As primary care, general practitioners treat non-life-threatening diseases, take care of chronic patients, diagnose and refer patients who needs specialist attention, and provide preventive care and health education.
In Hong Kong, family medicine is a specialty. Family doctors should have received additional training (at least 6 years of vocational training) in family medicine after earning the qualification as a general practitioner.
This article was independently written by Healthy Matters and is not sponsored. It is informative only and not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be relied upon for specific medical advice.
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