Prudential joins forces with Hong Kong Integrated Oncology Centre and Zhongshan Chenxinghai Hospital to become the first insurer in Hong Kong to launch Cross-Border Cashless Cancer Treatment Service in the Greater Bay Area
（29 November 2023, Hong Kong）Following the lifting of travel restrictions between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland earlier this year, visitor traffic between the two regions has seen a remarkable increase, resulting in a higher demand for quality cross-border medical services.
Prudential Hong Kong Limited ("Prudential") today announced a new and first-of-its-kind collaboration with the Hong Kong Integrated Oncology Centre (“HKIOC”) and Zhongshan Chenxinghai Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine (“CXH”) to launch the "Cross-Border Cashless Cancer Treatment Service1" in the Greater Bay Area, in support of a seamless cross-border medical service integration riding on the "Cancer Patients Shared Care" model*.
The rise in cancer cases in Hong Kong is concerning. According to Hong Kong Cancer Registry, one person in Hong Kong is diagnosed with cancer every 15 minutes2, with 1-in-4 men and 1-in-5 women likely to be diagnosed with cancer by the age of 75.3 In the Chinese mainland, nine people are diagnosed with cancer every minute4, while the number of breast cancer patients is increasing by as much as 420,000 a year. In addition, cancer treatment could be costly, impacting the financial stability of the patients and their family.
Through this collaboration, HKIOC and CXH will provide eligible Prudential customers with cross-border cashless cancer treatment and exclusive medical concierge services. This includes the unique "Cancer Patients Shared Care" model, which allows customers to receive multidisciplinary treatment (MDT) consultation support from both oncology centres during their cancer treatment.
Furthermore, under the "Cancer Patients Shared Care" model, Prudential customers can benefit from prioritised access to the professional resources and medical services of both HKIOC and CXH through a referral mechanism, enabling them to receive cancer treatment in a more convenient, hassle-free manner. It means that patients receiving treatment at CXH can be referred to HKIOC in Hong Kong for treatment, and vice versa.
The entire process, from initial consultation by specialist doctors to treatment and follow-up, aims to provide patients with seamless and hassle-free one-stop oncology support, allowing them to focus on their recovery. CXH also offers medical transportation services for patients within the Chinese mainland, where they will be transferred between the hospital and designated locations such as hotels and residences by non-emergency ambulances, making the healthcare services more convenient and effective.
Candy Au Yeung, Chief Customer Operations Officer at Prudential Hong Kong Limited, said: "Prudential has always been committed to the service promise of ”Listening. Understanding. Delivering”. Understanding the growing customer demand for cross-border medical services, we are delighted to collaborate with the Hong Kong Integrated Oncology Centre and Zhongshan Chenxinghai Hospital to launch the industry's first cross-border Cashless Cancer Treatment Service in the Greater Bay Area, allowing them more treatment options within the GBA."
Prudential's Cashless Service makes medical budget comes with certainty
Prudential's Cashless Service applies to the cross-border cancer treatment solution. HKIOC or CXH will conduct pre-approval of the medical budget for eligible customers before treatment, and receive the pre-authorisation result and the pre-approved amount in advance. Prudential will directly settle the approved medical expenses on behalf of the applicant after completion of treatment, eliminating the need for customers to bear upfront costs and related cashflow issues. Prudential has also waived the credit card pre-authorisation requirement for customers applying for its Cashless Service.
HKIOC and CXH first established a mutual cooperative relationship for cancer patients in the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong in 2019. In February 2023, they formally signed the "Greater Bay Area Medical Services Strategic Cooperation Agreement," to promote deeper ties in medical resource sharing, professional exchange and MDT consultations.
Tong Ka Kei, CEO of the Hong Kong Integrated Oncology Centre, said: “The collaboration with Prudential will further optimise cross-border medical services for oncology specialties. Along with our unique 'Cancer Patient Shared Care' model, our patients and their families are thus entitled to receive treatment with a peace of mind. Most importantly, we hope that our collaboration can drive more medical exchanges between the two regions, which will benefit wider group of cancer patients and become a model for integration of healthcare services in the Greater Bay Area.”
Dr Wong Chi Ho, CEO of Hong Kong Chenxinghai Medical Group, said: “As the first integrated Chinese-Western tertiary hospital in China jointly built by a private consortium between Hong Kong and the mainland, we have devoted an immense amount of effort on medical exchanges, discussions and collaborations with Hong Kong and Macau in recent years. Riding on the trend towards greater cooperation between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau, we have gradually aligned ourselves with international medical standards. Since the establishment of our International Medical Centre in 2021, we have introduced various convenient and high-end medical services, constantly striving towards the development of more systematic, personalised and precise medical treatment. The participation of an insurance company in providing its Cashless Service for cancer patients will certainly have a positive impact on our hospital, especially its International Patient Centre, and lay a solid foundation for the future advancement and improvement of cancer treatment services.”
Remarks
Operated by attending doctors and healthcare professionals from both regions, the "Cancer Patients Shared Care" model aims to provide coordinated and patient-centred healthcare services throughout the entire cancer treatment process. Doctors from Hong Kong Integrated Oncology Centre and Zhongshan Chenxinghai Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine will collaborate in developing treatment plans for patients in need. Eligible Prudential customers can choose to receive cancer treatment services from either the Hong Kong Integrated Oncology Centre or Zhongshan Chenxinghai Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, to gain support from both oncology centres during their cancer treatment journey through face-to-face medical consultation or multidisciplinary treatment consultation.
1 Cashless Service is an administrative arrangement in respect of covered medical expenses incurred and is provided by third-party service providers
2 “Top Ten Cancer in 2020” published by Hong Kong Cancer Registry, Hospital Authority in Dec 2022
3 “Cancer Statistics in 2020” Published by Hong Kong Cancer Registry, Hospital Authority
4 China National Cancer Center: Cancer statistics in China, 2022
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Disclaimer
Cross-Border Cashless Cancer Treatment Service is provided by third-party service providers Prudential has designated. Prudential may change both the scope and the service provider or cease to provide the service at any time without prior notice. We are not the service provider or the agent of the service provider. We make no representation, warranty or undertaking as to the quality and availability of the service and shall not accept any responsibility or liability for the services provided by the service provider. Under no circumstance shall we be responsible or liable for the acts or omissions or services of the service provider.
About Prudential Hong Kong Limited
Prudential has been serving the people of Hong Kong since 1964. Through Prudential Hong Kong Limited and Prudential General Insurance Hong Kong Limited, we provide a range of financial planning services and products including individual life insurance, investment-linked insurance, retirement solutions, health and medical protection, general insurance, and employee benefits.
Please visit www.prudential.com.hk for more information.
