Colonoscopy: Costs in Hong Kong, Procedures & Things To Know

Fast food culture and an unbalanced diet cause colorectal problems for many Hong Kongers. According to the Hong Kong Cancer Registry, colon cancer is the most common cancer in the city. In 2018, 2,279 individuals lost their life due to this lethal disease. Receiving a colonoscopy examination regularly can understand more about the condition of your bowels and avoid delayed treatment.

Under COVID-19, elective surgeries at public hospitals are postponed except for essential surgeries for cancer treatment. Appointments for non-emergency and routine clinical examinations, such as colonoscopy, are also rescheduled. To ease the concern about visiting the hospitals, you can consider receiving the check-up at day-surgery medical centers.

Risk Factors for Colon Cancer

Risk factors for colon cancer are numerous, including aging, diet and lifestyle. You can take a look at the below.

• Low fiber intake
• High consumption of red and processed meat
• Smoking
• Alcohol consumption
• Overweight or obesity
• Men at or above the age of 50
• A long history of inflammation of the bowel, such as ulcerative colitis
• History of colonic polyps
• Family history of colorectal cancer

Two Types of Colorectal Screening

Both a sigmoidoscopy and a colonoscopy are screening tests to look for colorectal cancer. The major difference between these two endoscopies lies in their length. The former is less invasive with only 60cm in length, as it only looks at the lower part of your colon. The latter has a length of 160cm, covering the entire colon.

Colonoscopy is generally more accurate and, therefore, costly. If no polyp is found during the test, you can conduct a sigmoidoscopy every five years or a colonoscopy every ten years.

Costs of Colonoscopy at Private Hospitals

Colonoscopy examination plans at private hospitals in Hong Kong cover similar items and charge from $4,050 to $15,100, including doctor’s fees, sedatives, and operating theater charges. If you need monitored anesthesia care (M.A.C), a polypectomy, hemorrhoid banding, and a biopsy, extra charges are incurred.

Private Hospitals	Items	Fees (HKD)*
Union Hospital	The plan includes basic equipment, drugs, consumables, and minimum operation time of the examination.	IV Sedation: From $4,050
Matilda International Hospital	The plan includes Standard room (discharged the same day), operating theater, specialists’ fee, nursing care, drugs and dressing, and bowel preparation medications	IV Sedation: From $14,060 M.A.C: From $17,380
Evangel Hospital	Colonoscopy package includes: surgery fee, endoscopy room fee (45 minutes), sedation with two drugs, 1 report with 8 images	From $7,900
Canossa Hospital	Colonoscopy package includes: basic medications & consumables, 1 endoscopic photo, general medical equipment, use of recovery room	From $9,720
Hong Kong Baptist Hospital	Colonoscopy package includes doctor's operation fee; room inspection fee and anesthesiologist's fee; ward fee; operating room and related materials; nursing procedures; laboratory and examination fees	From $10,100
Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital	Colonoscopy package includes: endoscopist fee, endoscopy room charge, intravenous sedation (two sedatives), Oxygen inhalation, cardiac and SpO2 monitoring, dressing, video system charge, endoscope charge, 1 DVD, 1 photo, 1 CLO test, use of day recovery bed, CO2 insufflation, colonic washout (N/S 2L)	From $10,420
Gleneagles Hospital	Packages price covers ALL costs related to the procedure, i.e. Doctor’s fee Anaesthetist’s fee Room charges (including meals*) Essential and related diagnostic procedure charges (including laboratory testing and diagnostic imaging) Treatment procedures charges (including emergency procedure, blood transfusion etc) Operating theater charges (including extra operation theater time) Nursing procedure charges Inpatient medication fee and seven days’ worth of discharge medication or up as prescribed by the attending doctor with relevancy to package Equipment and instrument charges Consumable, materials, and implant charges	IV Sedation: From $12,100 MAC: From $15,100

*Prices as of 25 Jul 2022
Note: Some of the plans do not include special procedures, such as polypectomy and hemorrhoid banding. For detailed pricing, please contact respective private hospitals.

Costs of Colonoscopy at Medical Centers

Besides, many day-care medical centers provide colonoscopy services, priced from $8,800 to $13,800. Extra charges are required if you need MAC, hemorrhoid banding, video recording, a polypectomy, or a biopsy. Prices vary as per the total number of polyps and sites of biopsy.

Medical Centers	Items	Fees (HKD)^
The Grand HD Endoscopy Center	The package includes: intravenous sedative, biopsy forceps, report with photo, surgeon fee, operating fee, laboratory fee, equipment fee, laxatives fee, preoperative and postoperative doctor's consultation fee.	Without Polyp & Biopsy: From $8,800 Total no. of Polyp and Sites of Biopsy 1-3: From $11,800
Humansa HD Endoscopy (Kwai Fong / Kwun Tong / Yuen Long)	For each case, include 1 photo report, Surgeon’s Fee, Intravenous (IV) Sedation Fee, Instrument Fee, Pathology Fee, Operation Theater Fee, Pre-Consultation Fee, Post-operative Report Interpretation and all miscellaneous charges during the procedure	Without Polyp & Biopsy: From $8,800 Total no. of Polyp and Sites of Biopsy 1-3: From $11,800
The Specialists	The Package Price above covers Surgeon's Fee, Instrument Fee, Pathology Free, CO2 Fee, Operation Theater Fee, an Endoscopy Report, Post-operative Medication Fee, Post-operative Report Interpretation and other miscellaneous charges during the procedure.	Without Polyp & Biopsy: From $9,600 Total no. of Polyp and Sites of Biopsy 1-3: From $13,800
Humansa HD Endoscopy (Central)	For each case, include 1 photo report, Surgeon’s Fee, Intravenous (IV) Sedation Fee, Instrument Fee, Pathology Fee, Operation Theater Fee, Pre-Consultation Fee, Post-operative Report Interpretation and all miscellaneous charges during the procedure	Without Polyp & Biopsy: From $10,300 Total no. of Polyp and Sites of Biopsy 1-3: From $13,300
Hong Kong Medical & Gastrointestinal Centre	The package includes: endoscopist fee, endoscopy facility charges including NIBP, pulse oximeter monitoring, sedation, oxygen, biopsy with Clotest, report with photos and DVD/USB	Colonoscopy: From $10,800 Biopsies with pathology report: From $1,500 Polypectomies with pathology report: From $3,000

^Prices as of 25 Jul 2022
Note: Some of the plans do not include special procedures, such as polypectomy and hemorrhoid banding. For detailed pricing, please contact respective private hospitals.

Things to Take Note Before the Operation

1. You must avoid having fiber-rich foods three days before the operation.
2. You need to take laxatives at the night before the check-up for stooling.
3. You should not eat six hours before the operation.
4. Your doctor will use a local anesthetic drug or inject a proper amount of sedatives and pain relievers to lower your discomfort before the examination starts.
5. The examination takes 10 to 40 minutes.
6. You are allowed to eat after the effects of anesthesia or sedative dissipate.
7. If you have any complications after the check-up, please seek medical advice at your doctor.

Procedures of Colonoscopy

1. Your doctor will explain all the examination steps, and you need to sign an agreement before the check-up.
2. You can opt for sedatives or anesthesia before it starts.
3. You will lie on a table while the doctor inserts a colonoscope with a diameter of 1.5cm into your rectum and colon after applying lubricant at the anus.
4. If required, your doctor will conduct a biopsy or polypectomy

Aftercare of Colonoscopy

• Since the effects of anesthesia will not dissipate immediately, you are recommended to be accompanied by an adult.
• Avoid driving, operating machines, performing dangerous tasks and signing legal documents within 24 hours after the check-up.
• If a polypectomy is performed, you should avoid eating some fruit and vegetables according to your doctor’s guidelines.
• You should not exercise or lift heavy objects to prevent after having a polypectomy.

Risk of Colonoscopy

You may feel bloating, borborygmus, and anal discomfort after receiving a colonoscopy. A large amount of bleeding or colon perforation is rarely observed. For more details, you should consult your doctor before the check-up.

Does Medical Insurance Cover Colonoscopy?

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