Prudential recently announced a strategic partnership with the Hong Kong Integrated Oncology Centre (HKIOC) and Fosun Shanshan Hospital to enhance the integration of cross-border cancer medical services within the Greater Bay Area. Through this collaboration, eligible Prudential clients can now benefit from medical direct payment arrangements for cancer treatment costs and utilize the cross-border Collaborative Patient Management support system, facilitating a seamless connection between local and mainland cancer care while minimizing procedural barriers. This initiative aims to provide patients with a genuinely seamless treatment experience.
Under this collaboration, Prudential customers can consult and make appointments for cancer treatment services with HKIOC or Foshan Fosun Chancheng Hospital before undergoing therapy. The healthcare institutions will assist in applying for pre-approval of medical expenses from Prudential based on individual cases. Once approved, Prudential will directly pay the authorized medical expenses to the hospital after treatment is completed, relieving patients from the burden of out-of-pocket costs and effectively addressing any financial stress they may encounter during their treatment.
According to Prudential 2024 Personal Life Insurance Claim Report, cancer is a leading critical illness and cause of death compensation in Hong Kong and mainland China. In Hong Kong, a new case is reported every fifteen minutes, while in mainland China, nine people are diagnosed with cancer every minute. In 2020, the number of new male lung cancer patients in mainland China reached approximately 540,000, with over 420,000 new cases of breast cancer. These figures highlight that cancer has become a significant challenge facing health insurance systems in the region.
The other core aspect of this collaboration is the introduction of the Collaborative Patient Management (Co-managed Care) treatment model. This model involves a specialized team from the HKIOC and Foshan Fosun Chancheng Hospital working together to create personalized treatment plans for patients. This includes arranging interdisciplinary video consultations and integrating oncology medical resources from both locations. Patients, regardless of whether they are in Hong Kong or Foshan, can freely choose their treatment location through a referral system, with dedicated case management teams providing continuous support. This includes priority booking and exclusive concierge arrangements, allowing patients to focus solely on their recovery.
Foshan Fuxing Chancheng Hospital is the flagship comprehensive hospital under Shanghai Fuxing Health Technology Group Co., Ltd., boasting a history of over 60 years. Recognized as a large Grade A tertiary hospital in mainland China, it is equipped with advanced medical facilities such as PET-CT and CAR-T cell therapy, offering cutting-edge cancer treatment technologies. Since its establishment in 2015, HKIOC has focused on multidisciplinary integrated treatments, providing comprehensive cancer care plans that cover prevention, screening, imaging diagnostics, laboratory analysis, and treatment planning, ensuring holistic care for patients.
Prudential Hong Kong’s CEO, Lam Chi Kong, pointed out that this collaboration not only strengthens the integration of resources among the three parties but also marks a significant step for Prudential in the development of cross-border health protection solutions. He emphasized: Through close collaboration with HKIOC and Foshan Zen Medical, Prudential is bringing high-quality, convenient cancer treatment solutions to clients in Hong Kong and mainland China, achieving a truly seamless cross-border healthcare experience..
The chairman of Foshan Fuxing Chancheng Hospital, Hu Hang, added that this collaboration Connecting Hong Kong patients to the final mile of medical services across the border. aims to achieve unified standards and consistent services in collaborative treatment. Meanwhile, the CEO of the Hong Kong Comprehensive Oncology Center, Tong Jiaqi, believes that this initiative will set a new benchmark for medical collaboration between the two regions, alleviating the administrative pressure on patients and their families during the treatment process, allowing them to focus on recovery.
This tripartite collaboration is expected to provide cancer patients in the Greater Bay Area with more efficient, flexible, and secure cross-border medical options, becoming one of the hallmark examples of the integrated development of healthcare in Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao. In the future, the three parties will continue to deepen their cooperation, launching more targeted cross-border medical solutions tailored to different diseases and health needs, in response to the growing demand for health insurance across the region.
