Prudential Hong Kong enters alliance with local hospitals and clinics

Prudential Hong Kong enters alliance with local hospitals and clinics | Insurance Business Asia

Life & Health

Prudential Hong Kong enters alliance with local hospitals and clinics

Partnership promises streamlined healthcare services and enhanced patient care

Life & Health

By
Roxanne Libatique

Prudential Hong Kong Limited has announced a strategic partnership with seven local hospitals and clinics to develop a patient-focused healthcare network in the country.

This initiative is designed to enhance resource utilisation, professional expertise, and complementary networks, aiming to provide a seamless medical experience and improved medical protection for customers.

Partner clinics and hospitals

The collaboration includes:

Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong in partnership with Chiron Medical Group
Hong Kong Baptist Hospital with Medicare Group
Union Hospital with Total HealthCare Specialists Centre and Alliance Medical Centre

What to expect from partnership

As part of the agreement, eligible customers who need surgical procedures will be referred to the partner hospitals after receiving initial treatment at the designated clinics.

The clinics will seek Prudential Hong Kong’s pre-approval for the medical costs and arrange for the Medical Expenses Direct Billing Service. This process will allow the insurer to directly cover the pre-approved expenses, simplifying the financial management for customers and alleviating cash flow issues.

Prudential Hong Kong will also set up exclusive counters at partner clinics to provide priority services and assistance.

The seven partner institutions have locations across Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories. These hospitals will have dedicated teams to provide administrative support, aiming to streamline service delivery and improve the customer experience.

Arjan Toor, CEO health at Prudential plc, noted the significant out-of-pocket healthcare expenses and highlighted the company’s goal of bridging this gap by guiding customers to the right care.

“Transforming our health business is central to our strategy as we recognise that customers are increasingly seeking not just healthcare, but quality affordable healthcare solutions. While customers understand the importance of their well-being, however, a significant portion of healthcare expenses is still paid out of pocket. Our aim is to help close this gap and make a positive difference in the lives of our customers by guiding them towards the right quality care. We are pleased to be working with these world-class hospitals and clinics, providing first-rate healthcare to our customers,” he said.

Candy Au Yeung, chief customer operations and health officer at Prudential Hong Kong, highlighted the partnership’s role in reducing the mental and financial stress for customers.

“We are pleased to collaborate with seven top-class medical institutions in Hong Kong to create a comprehensive patient-centric healthcare ecosystem. This partnership will enable Prudential’s Medical Expenses Direct Billing Service to benefit more customers, alleviating mental and financial pressure in the unfortunate event that they fall ill. Without being concerned about the claims process, clients can focus on therapy, recuperation, and recovery. Prudential will continue to safeguard the health journeys ‘For Every Life, For Every Future’ while exploring further collaboration with medical partners,” she said.

Commenting on the partnership, Dr Kenneth Tsang, regional CEO of IHH Healthcare North Asia and CEO of Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong, said the hospital aims to make quality private healthcare more accessible through strategic partnerships.

“Gleneagles Hospital has been engaging in various strategic partnerships with a view towards offering excellent healthcare that meets patients’ needs. Through collaboration with the insurance industry, and with the support of our professional healthcare team, we strive to make quality private healthcare accessible to more people. Our partnership with Prudential is poised to create synergy which will foster the delivery of more personalised and seamless healthcare experience whilst offering patients greater peace of mind,” he said.

Grace Wong, director of administration and planning at Hong Kong Baptist Hospital, spoke about the hospital’s efforts to expand ambulatory services and enhance the efficiency of medical services through this collaboration with Prudential.

“Hong Kong Baptist Hospital is pleased to collaborate with Prudential Hong Kong in pursuance of quality and seamless medical services for serving patients more efficiently and conveniently,” she said.

Dr Yannie OY Soo, assistant chief hospital manager at Union Hospital, commented: “‘Caring. Reliable. Empathetic.’ are the core values we always uphold. Through continuous innovation, we actively introduce personalised facilities to provide comprehensive, quality and easily accessible patient-centred healthcare services. Our partnership with Prudential not only offers our customers more convenient choices, but also simplifies patients’ admission and payment processes, allowing seamless care and a pleasant patient journey.”

Wallace Wong, CEO of Chiron Medical Group, and Grace Chan, CEO of Medicare Group, both emphasised the importance of comprehensive, patient-centred care and the benefits of collaborative efforts to improve healthcare services in Hong Kong.

Gabriel Lee, managing director of Total HealthCare Specialists Centre, and Suki Fung, manager at Alliance Medical Centre, expressed their optimism about the partnership’s potential to enhance medical experiences and service quality for patients.