Department of Health
The 2026-27 estimate for this head (Head 37) is HK$15.7 billion p.1 (official document, opens in new tab). That is HK$1.1 billion (7.9%) more than the 2025-26 revised estimate of HK$14.6 billion p.1 (official document, opens in new tab) (our calculation).
Spending by year
Of HK$1,120 in tax, about HK$21 corresponds to this department's spending. p.1 (official document, opens in new tab) p.12 (official document, opens in new tab)
This is a split by budget share. Taxes are not set aside for particular uses. How we split it
What is the money for?
2026-27 programme budgets; changes against last year's revised estimate (our calculation). p.13 (official document, opens in new tab)
Programme figures and staff
Programme spending, staff and shares p.13 (official document, opens in new tab)
| Programme | 2026-27 | 2025-26 | 2024-25 | Staff | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Statutory Functions | HK$2.0bn2,019.2 | 1,877.5 | 1,558.1 | — | — |
| Disease Prevention | HK$8.3bn8,290.9 | 7,793.7 | 7,362.8 | — | — |
| Health Promotion | HK$584m584.4 | 577.1 | 496.7 | — | — |
| Curative Care | HK$1.3bn1,310.2 | 1,273.1 | 1,315.2 | — | — |
| Rehabilitation | HK$193m193.0 | 184.2 | 166.2 | — | — |
| Treatment of Drug Abusers | HK$219m218.6 | 212.7 | 210.0 | — | — |
| Medical and Dental Treatment for Civil Servants | HK$3.1bn3,079.9 | 2,630.5 | 2,547.4 | — | — |
| Personnel Management of Civil Servants Working in Hospital Authority | HK$11.5m11.5 | 11.5 | 11.7 | — | — |
Staff and policy areas
How many staff?
The establishment goes from 6,943 posts on 31 March 2026 p.1 (official document, opens in new tab) to 6,800 posts on 31 March 2027 p.1 (official document, opens in new tab) (down 143, our calculation).
Which policy areas does it serve?
- Internal Security (part of the Security group)
- Health (part of the Health group)
- Central Management of the Civil Service (part of the Support group)
A department may work in a policy area only in part. We never add department spending into group totals: the Government publishes totals by group only. Index of Policy Areas (PDF)