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Gender Identity Clinic at Public Service in Hong Kong

INTRODUCTION

Gender-affirming care has been offered at public hospitals in Hong Kong since 1980. To this day, the one and only GIC is located at the Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH). The clinic has been established since 2016.​

 

Gender Identity Clinic (GIC) is a multidisciplinary clinic offering gender-affirming care to transgender and gender diverse individuals. A psychiatrist first understands one's gender identity and mental health needs, offering support and follow up. According to one’s needs, they will then be referred to corresponding services.​

REFERRAL LETTER

 

NEW REGISTRATION AND ROUTE

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1. Obtain a referral letter

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2. Make a new registration at GIC

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3. Seen & referred by psychiatry to endocrinology

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4. Attend an appointment of endocrinology

ESTIMATED WAITING TIME OF GIC

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Estimated waiting time

Estimated date
(Counting from 2026 February)

First appointment of psychiatry

2 years

  • 104 weeks

2028 February

First appointment of endocrinology (Including gender-affirming hormones)*

3 years & 7 months

  • 187 weeks

2029 September

From new registration to hormone prescription* (Waiting time for psy + endo)

5 years & 7 months

  • 291 weeks

2031 September

*If one wishes to see GIC endocrinology:

  • They must be first seen and referred by GIC psychiatry
    (Even if one has been followed up at Hong Kong public paediatric clinic, or Hong Kong private clinic, or outside Hong Kong).
     

    • Generally, when one is physically and psychologically ready., hormone prescription begins the earliest at the first appointment of endocrinology. Otherwise, longer time may be rquired to receive a prescription.

Waiting time

    • Blood taking 2 weeks prior.

      • A blood taking slip is usually provided by a psychiatrist. Please inquire your doctor for details.
         

    • If you have regular follow ups at other clinics (E.g. for gender-affirming hormones, any health conditions, e.g. diabetes, hypertension, etc.):
      Please inform your doctor before the first appointment of GIC endocrinology, and ask for a letter.

      The doctor's letter may include the following:
      Past medical history, health conditions,
      Medications (if any): Names, dosage, start date & duration of use, date of last injection (If any), etc.

      Furthermore, collect relevant healthcare records (E.g. blood reports).
       

      • At the first appointment of GIC endocrinology, please inform the doctor, and produce the above documents.

    ​

NUMBER OF WEEKS OF WAITING TIME AT GIC

x-axis: Date

y-axis: Number of weeks

​

  • First appointment of psychiatry

  • First appointment of endocrinology

  • From new registration to hormone prescription (Waiting time of psychiatry + endocrinology)

  • Gender-affirming surgeries at PWH are performed by surgeons of urology, plastic surgery, and obstetrics & gynecology. The waiting time since the first appointment* for each surgery is as follows:

    ​

    • Removal of the penis and testes, construction of a vagina (Penectomy and bilateral orchiectomy, vaginoplasty)

      • Around 10 years
        According to one's needs, it is possible to have penectomy and bilateral orchiectomy only. Please consult your doctor for details.

    ​

    (Breast augmentation for gender-affirming care has been suspended since the year 2020-2021)

    ​

    • Chest contouring (Bilateral mastectomy)

      • Around 2-3 years

    ​

    • Removal of the uterus and ovaries (Total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy)

      • Around 2-3 years

    ​

    • Release of the clitoris (Metoidioplasty)

      • Around 2-3 years

    ​

    • Construction of a penis (Phalloplasty)

      • Around 4-5 years

  • GIC usually requires

    1. At least 2 years of real-life experience, with regular follow ups at psychiatry and clinical psychology of GIC.

    2. Referral from both psychiatry and clinical psychology, for different gender-affirming surgeries according to one's needs.

    ​

    • From referral to the first appointment for gender-affirming surgery, it takes around 1-1.5 years.

      • During this first appointment, one's health conditions, needs and expectations of the surgery will be explored. The doctor will also explain the details of the surgery. If appropriate, one will start queueing for the surgery.

    ​

    (If a referral letter from a psychiatrist for having a gender-affirming surgery other than at PWH, please consult your doctor for details)

Contact Us

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CONTACT

Gender Identity Clinic

  • 3505 4350 (The same number on appointment slips)

 

(If needed, the following may also be contacted for inquiries, and for 
Paitent Relations Office

  • 3505 2433

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Working hours: Monday to Friday

  • 9 am-1 pm, and 2-5 pm

​(Closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays)

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Feedback and Complaint Submission

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