Press Releases

CUHK Medical Centre (CUHKMC) staged in February 2026 Phase III of its price adjustment initiative, following the former two phases respectively implemented in November and December last year. This phase includes adjusting the charging schemes of 24-hour outpatient and emergency services and outpatient medication: consultation fee is only charged according to the registration time while drug packages are introduced for two common illnesses - upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) and gastroenteritis, with an aim to help patients have a better medical expense budget estimation. The new charging scheme has been soft-launched since 1 February 2026.

In the past, consultation fees of our 24-hour outpatient and emergency services varied, based on a bundle of factors, including registration time, whether an appointment was made with a specific doctor, and patient’s conditions (stable or serious). Under the new mechanism, consultation fees are determined only by the registration time. More information of the new charging schemes is available on webpage: https://www.cuhkmc.hk/fees-and-charges/clinical-service-fee/emergency-medicine-centre.

To help patients better manage their medical expense budget, after making reference to the past cases of 24-hour outpatient and emergency services and the costs of commonly used medications, CUHKMC has introduced outpatient drug packages for two common illnesses, namely URTI and gastroenteritis, with a three-day package at HK$180 and a five-day package at HK$220. Patients diagnosed with either URTI or gastroenteritis can receive suitable prescriptions from a list of 83 commonly used medications within the relevant drug package. Meanwhile, prices of more than 10 common antibiotics, which are not among the list of drugs covered by the drug packages, have also been adjusted to benefit patients who require antibiotics as part of their treatment.

Prices of some charged items in the 24-hour outpatient and emergency services have also been adjusted, including lifting the surcharge on receiving X-ray screening during non-office hours.

Ms. Mandy MA, Chief Financial Officer of CUHKMC, said, “Over one-third of the patients using our 24-hour outpatient and emergency services seek treatment for URTI or gastroenteritis. After implementing the time-based charging scheme and drug packages for our 24-hour outpatient and emergency services, patients with mild illnesses such as cold, influenza, or gastroenteritis can clearly and more easily understand their consultation and medication expenses. In addition, the night outpatient consultation fees after 10pm have also been adjusted, so as to help patients lower their expenses for seeking medical assistance late in the night and enable them to receive timely treatment.”