Medicines in Hong Kong: Where to Go?

In Hong Kong, prescription medicines and pharmacist-only medicines are sold only at registered pharmacies, which show the "Rx" logo and must have a registered pharmacist on duty for at least two-thirds of opening hours. Medicine stores (藥行) have no pharmacist and can sell only common over-the-counter drugs, such as cold and flu remedies. The Department of Health listed 643 registered pharmacies in October 2026. Antibiotics always need a doctor's prescription, and ibuprofen (Advil) must be bought at a pharmacy, but without a prescription.

Places to purchase drugs in Hong Kong

You can buy Western medicines in three kinds of places: registered pharmacies, licensed medicine stores, and doctors' clinics and hospitals, which give you medicines on the spot.

Medicine stores (Listed Sellers of Poisons)

A medicine store, often called a "medicine company" or 藥行 in Chinese, holds a Listed Seller of Poisons license. It has no pharmacist. It may sell only common over-the-counter drugs, such as cold and flu medicines, fever reducers and pain relievers. It is not allowed to call itself a "pharmacy", "dispensary" or 藥房, or to show the Rx logo.

You will also see common remedies on supermarket and convenience store shelves. Wherever you buy, check the box: every medicine sold legally in Hong Kong must be registered and carries a number in the form "HK-XXXXX".

Authorized Sellers (pharmacies)

A registered pharmacy holds an Authorized Seller of Poisons license. It is the only kind of shop that may use the title "pharmacy", "dispensary" or 藥房 and display the Rx logo. Chain stores such as Mannings and Watsons are pharmacies only at branches that hold this licence and show the logo.

A registered pharmacist must be in the shop for at least two-thirds of its opening hours. The pharmacist's name, certificate of registration and hours on duty must be on display. Ask the pharmacist before you buy: they can tell you which medicine fits your symptoms and how to take it.

A pharmacy can sell all three categories of medicine (see the table below). Prescription-only medicines still need a doctor's prescription, even at a pharmacy.

Clinics / Hospitals

This is a unique characteristic of Hong Kong’s healthcare system: you can get drugs from your doctor’s clinic and at a hospital. A prescription will be given to you every time you visit them, which will be filled right away in the same place. In Hong Kong, clinics and hospitals basically sell any type of drug according to the prescription issued.

Classification of drugs in Hong Kong

The Drug Office sorts Western medicines into three categories:

Some common examples:

• Ibuprofen (Advil, Nurofen): the Department of Health lists ibuprofen among Part 1 poisons that should only be supplied by a pharmacy under a pharmacist's supervision. You can buy it without a prescription, but only at a pharmacy.

• Antibiotics such as amoxicillin (Augmentin): prescription only. No shop may sell them without a doctor's prescription.

• Sedatives such as alprazolam (Xanax) and diazepam (Valium): prescription only.

To check the category of a specific product, search the Drug Office drug database by product name, active ingredient or HK registration number. You can filter by prescription-only, pharmacy-only and over-the-counter.

Regulation of pharmacies

The Department of Health's list of Authorized Sellers of Poisons had 643 registered pharmacies on 31 October 2026. The areas with the most listings:

How to check that a shop is a real pharmacy

1. Look for the title "Pharmacy", "Dispensary" or 藥房 and the Rx logo at the shop front.

2. Look inside for the pharmacist's name, certificate of registration and a notice of the pharmacist's hours on duty.

3. Search the shop name or address with the Drug Office's Search Drug Dealers tool. Choose "Retailer (Authorized Seller of Poisons)" to see pharmacies only.

4. Check that the medicine box carries an "HK-XXXXX" registration number.

The DH runs year-round inspections: about 4,500 inspections of pharmacies, medicine stores and Chinese herbal medicine retailers took place in the first quarter of 2026. Selling Part 1 poisons or unregistered medicines illegally carries a maximum fine of HK$100,000 and two years in prison. A shop that is not a pharmacy but uses the Rx logo or the word "pharmacy" commits an offence.

To be qualified as a pharmacist in Hong Kong, one way is to receive a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from one of Hong Kong’s two pharmacy schools: HKU and Chinese University. They have to complete 4 years of studies, receive one year of specialized training and must be registered under the Pharmacy and Poisons Board. Therefore, they can give you professional and reliable advice on the safe use of drugs. Candidates can also become pharmacists in Hong Kong after having studied pharmacy abroad and successfully passed exams in Hong Kong.

Places to purchase Chinese medicines in Hong Kong

Hong Kong has thousands of licensed Chinese medicine retail shops where you can find not only Chinese medicines but sometimes regular medicines too, if they are part of a pharmacy. For more details on Chinese medicine retail shops, please click here.

Hong Kong’s two main pharmacy chains (Mannings, Watsons) or supermarkets (PARKnSHOP, Wellcome) also sell Chinese medicines. For some medicines you will need a prescription from Chinese medicine practitioners. They will usually fill the prescription for you right away at their clinic.

Regulation of Chinese medicines

There is a licensing and regulation system for Chinese medicines to ensure the quality and safety of Chinese medicines. Under the Chinese Medicine Ordinance, Chinese medicines are classified:

Schedule 1 medicines: They must be sold on a prescription issued by a registered Chinese medicine practitioner. Patients should be warned and cautioned as these medicines contain toxic ingredients.

Schedule 2 medicines: They are relatively safe, no prescription is needed for purchases.

To view the full list of classification of Chinese medicines, please visit Hong Kong’s Chinese Medicine Council’s website.

Are medicines reimbursed by insurance in Hong Kong?

Drugs that are prescribed by a doctor are usually reimbursed by all health insurance plans. Generally, high-end medical plans will reimburse drugs in full when provided on an inpatient basis (when being hospitalized) whereas local basic plans usually have a sub-limit.

When drugs are prescribed by a doctor on an outpatient basis (when in clinic), high-end medical plans generally reimburse the drugs in full. Local basic plans however have a medication sub-limit you may easily reach. Beware of any sub-limits as drugs can be very expensive in Hong Kong especially for routine management of chronic conditions.

What medicines cost at public clinics in 2026

There is no official retail price list for medicines in Hong Kong. Pharmacies and private clinics set their own prices. Public clinics charge fixed fees, which rose on 1 January 2026:

Each drug item covers up to 4 weeks of supply. See our guide to public hospital fees in 2026 for the full list. If you need regular medication, outpatient cover matters more than the hospital plan. Alea compares more than 50 insurers; see our comparison of medical insurance in Hong Kong.