Help!!!!!!!!!!

J

joyofliving

Registered User
Hi,

I have been visiting a private doctor in Central. Was seeing her for PCOS treatment for two months and now I am one month pregnant. The total money spent including 4 consultation visits, 3 utrasounds, lab tests (including antenatal tests) and medication is about 20,000 HKD.

Is this normal in Hong Kong, or is it cheaper in Public hospitals? Does anyone know how much is the consultation fee, ultrasound charges and other test charges for Doctors in Public Hospitals? Any recommendations?

I am not a Hong Kong Citizen or Permanent Resident.

Thanks :)
 
Congratulations!!!

Do you have a HK ID card? If you do, you can use the public hospital and prenatal clinics. The total cost is less than $500 which includes u/s, vitamins and delivery.
 
Congratulations of your prenancy Joyofliving!!!!

Sorry to butt in on your thread! I have a similar dilema at the moment!

I was pregnant in HK about a year ago, which tragically ended in misscarriage, but already spent a fortune on private health care at the time (no HK ID).

I am now 3 month pregnant again and looking for something cheaper this time. I have a HK ID now but do not speak Cantonese or Mandarin (shame on me). Would you still recommend public health given these circumstances Rani ? - I have heard from my friends that the system is very good, but they all speak the language and are not sure it would be very easy for me to have a baby when it will be difficult to communicate! especially as the birth of my daughter did not run smoothly (56 hours).

Thak you :grouphug:
 
I don't speak Chinese and I went through the public system. It helps if you can recognize at least the numbers in Chinese because when they call you back to the room, sometimes they say the room number in Chinese. But if they see that you have an English/Western name (or any non-chinese name), they will probably say it in English. All of the doctors and nurses speak English, so you should have no problem. The only thing is that you have to speak up if you have questions or need clarification or anything like that. My hubby is HK Chinese, but could only come with me to a couple of the appointments. I made it through ok. Feel free to pm me with any questions.
 
i've been through the public system twice. there is no problem with the language, generally speaking.
i did have a couple of nurses who only knew what pertained to their job, but most of the others i could have a real conversation with. doctors were not a problem at all
 
Great!

Thanks for your replies - It has given me a lot more confidence to go the public health route - it makes so much more sense (money wise)! - although the thought of a double room in a swish hospital (or should I say hotel) was starting to sound very nice LoL

How often do they do ultrasounds to check on baba? And do they check often for a heart beat do you know?



xxx
 
in the public system, you generally get 2 u/s. however, if there are any compllications, you often get more. in two pregnancies, i had at least 20 u/s!!!

they check the heartbeat at every checkup after 12 weeks (can't hear it before that anyway!)
 
I have taken appointment with Tsan Yuk for 1st Aug (they didnt have any space earlier). I asked the lady on the phone which Doctor was it with and she said it was with a Nurse and she would take my blood sample to see if the baby is alright. She didnt speak English very well so it was difficult getting any other info out of her. I am confused about this? Does anyone know how do the consultations go in public hospitals? Do they do all the tests and ultrasounds a private doctor would?
 
I only got one ultrasound doing public. They said if there were complications that I would get more, but everything was fine, so i only got one. They checked for the heartbeat at every appointment that I can remember, except for maybe the first one or two because it was too early. But they never said what the heartbeat rate was, so you would have to ask.

At your first appointment I think it's just a nurse that sees you, but after that you usually see a nurse and a doctor seperately. The nurse checks your blood pressure, weight and urine and talks to you for a little bit, and then you have to wait for a bit before the doctor sees you.

The public system does all the tests that are necessary. If you have risk factors, they will do screening for down syndrome, gestational diabetes, strep b etc etc. I don't know for sure, but I think the private doctor would do more tests because they can get more money out of you. In the public system I think they only do what is really necessary.

Oh, and by the way, there isn't a specific doctor that sees you every time. It's just whoever you get when your number is called.
 
also, QMH(tsan yuk) is a training hospital. if you are uncomfortable seeing a med student for your appts. when you arrive, ask to see the "dr" not the med student. it sometimes takes longer, but if you are uneasy about students, then it's worth it. this won't be possible for the first visit, which is really just a registration, so they have your info. they will show you a video about downs' syndrome and do the normal checks...then they give you the next appt time. you do NOT get to choose it, they tell you...

ps.make sure you take something to read/pass the time with... the waits can sometimes feel like years out of your life!
 
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