Press Release
20 March 2000
 
Doctors' Fees Survey 1999

The Hong Kong Medical Association (HKMA) has completed a survey to tap market information on doctors' fees in the private sector. Results of the Survey are printed on the attached sheets.

In mid-August 1999, questionnaires were sent to 2270 HKMA members who were in private practice. A total of 761 (33.5%) replies were received. Among the 761 respondents, 395 were in general practice and 381 were in specialist practice.

In the Survey, doctors' fees were studies in two groupings: general practice and specialist practice. Under each grouping, fees were categorised into:

1)   Charges in private hospitals

2)   Charges in private clinics  
 

I. Doctors Fees -- General Practice

(Total number of respondents for this section: 395)

Tables 1.1-1.4 show the charges for medical services and procedures performed. The median fee for a regular consultation was $170 (Table 5.2), which represented a nominal increase of 13% from that in 1996. The median fee for an extended consultation ($200) had maintained at the same level as that in 1996.

Charges in hospitals

Table 1.1

Charges of general practitioners in performing various types of in-theatre/laboratory operative procedures, bedside procedures and attendance in hospitals
 

Response Rate
Median
Daily Attendance每日巡房
1st Class
20.5%
(81)
1,000
2nd Class
22.8%
(90)
750
3rd Class
29.1%
(115)
500
Bedside Procedure 病房簡單手術
1st Class
4.3%
(17)
2,000
2nd Class
5.3%
(21)
1,500
3rd Class
6.6%
(26)
1,000
Ultra-Major Operation 特大手術
1st Class
0.3%
(1)
-
2nd Class
0.3%
(1)
-
3rd Class
0.5%
(2)
-
Major Operation 大手術
1st Class
2.3%
(9)
24,000
2nd Class
2.3%
(9)
18,000
3rd Class
3.8%
(15)
15,000
Intermediate Operation 中型手術
1st Class
4.3%
(17)
12,000
2nd Class
4.3%
(17)
8,000
3rd Class
6.1%
(24)
6,000
Minor Operation 小手術
1st Class
7.6%
(30)
4,500
2nd Class
8.9%
(35)
3,000
3rd Class
15.2%
(60)
2,250
 

Median: The value of the middle item of a distribution. 中位數:一組數據分佈的中間數的數值。

The number of respondents are given inside the brackets. 括號內的數字代表回覆人數。

Charges in clinics

Table 1.2

Charges of general practitioners for consultations* and performing office procedures
 

Response Rate
Median
Regular Consultation普通診症
99.0%
(391)
170
Extended Consultation延長診症
70.1%
(277)
200
Simple Office Procedure簡單手術
79.0%
(312)
270
Complex Office Procedure複雜手術
43.0%
(170)
1,000
* Consultation fees were inclusive of 2 days regular medication.

Table 1.3

Percentage change of present charges compared with those 12 months ago
 

Response Rate
Median
Average Change
Increased
7.1%
(27)
+7.0%
+8.4%
No Change
73.9%
(283)
-
-
Decreased
19.1%
(73)
-10.0%
-11.9%
 

Table 1.4

Overall change of present charges compared with those 12 months ago
 

Response Rate
Median
Average Change
Overall
97.0%
(383)
+0.0%
+6.4%
 

Median: The value of the middle item of a distribution. 中位數:一組數據分佈的中間數的數值。
The number of respondents are given inside the brackets. 括號內的數字代表回覆人數。

 

II. Doctors FeesSpecialist Practice

(Total number of respondents for this section: 381)

The following table shows the charges of doctors in specialist practice for procedures and services given in hospitals and in clinics. The median fees for a regular consultation and an extended consultation were $350 and $500 respectively, both were comparable to those of the 1996 survey. Parallel to the economic downturn in the territory, medical fees had declined over the past 12 months immediately before the survey was conducted. 18% of respondents indicated a downward adjustment in their overall charges while a mere 4% reported an increase. The majority, or 78%, of the respondents had not adjusted their fees during this period.

Charges in hospitals

Table 2.1

Charges of doctors in specialist practice in performing various types of in-theatre/laboratory operative procedures, bedside procedures and attendance in hospitals
 

Response Rate
Median
Daily Attendance每日巡房
1st Class
77.4%
(295)
1,500
2nd Class
81.1%
(309)
900
3rd Class
85.6%
(326)
600 
Bedside Procedure病房簡單手術
1st Class
30.7%
(117)
3,000
2nd Class
30.2%
(119)
2,000
3rd Class
33.9%
(129)
1,200
Ultra-Major Operations特大手術
1st Class
18.9%
(72)
72,500
2nd Class
18.9%
(72)
50,000
3rd Class
22.1%
(18)
30,000
Major Operations大手術
1st Class
39.4%
(150)
40,000
2nd Class
42.3%
(161)
27,000
3rd Class
46.2%
(176)
16,750
Intermediate Operations中型手術
1st Class
43.6%
(166)
20,000
2nd Class
45.7%
(174)
15,000
3rd Class
50.7%
(193)
10,000
Minor Operations 小手術
1st Class
47.5%
(181)
8,000
2nd Class
50.9%
(194)
6,000
3rd Class
59.8%
(228)
3,800
Median: The value of the middle item of a distribution. 中位數:一組數據分佈的中間數的數值。
The number of respondents are given inside the brackets. 括號內的數字代表回覆人數。

 

Charges in clinics

Table 2.2

Charges of doctors in specialist practice for consultations* and performing office procedures
 

Response Rate
Median
Regular Consultation普通診症
94.5%
(360)
350
Extended Consultation 延長診症
82.7%
(315)
500
Simple Office Procedure簡單手術
70.9%
(270)
575
Complex Office Procedure 複雜手術
40.9%
(156)
2,000
* Consultation fees were exclusive of medication, laboratory tests, X-rays or ECG, etc.

Table 2.3

Percentage change of present charges compared with those 12 months ago
 

Response Rate
Median
Average Change
Increased
4.4%
(16)
+5.0%
+6.9%
No Change
77.7%
(286)
-
-
Decreased
17.9%
(66)
-10.0%
-13.0%
 

Table 2.4

Overall change of present charges compared with those 12 months ago
 

Response Rate
Median
Average Change
Overall
96.6%
(368)
+0.0%
-2.1%
 

Median: The value of the middle item of a distribution. 中位數:一組數據分佈的中間數的數值。
The number of respondents are given inside the brackets. 括號內的數字代表回覆人數。

 

Back to Previous Pag