Hong Kong’s healthcare sector introduced two technology initiatives this week aimed at improving patient experience, with Prudential (pictured above) expanding cross-border medical services and Bupa (pictured below) launching palm-based check-in technology.
Prudential Hong Kong announced Friday it has extended its Medical Expenses Direct Billing Service to all Parkway Shanghai medical facilities through an enhanced partnership with IHH Healthcare North Asia. The expansion covers Parkway MediCentre Xintiandi, Parkway Medical & Dental Clinic Biyun, and Parkway Medical Clinic Gubei.
Eligible customers can now access specialist outpatient care, day surgeries, and MRI scans across multiple specialties, including gastroenterology, general surgery, urology, gynecology, and otolaryngology, at centrally located facilities.
“When seeking cross-border medical care, we know customers highly value speed, transparency, and the reassurance of predictable cost arrangements,” said Candy Au Yeung, chief customer operations and health officer at Prudential Hong Kong.
The service allows customers to seek pre-approval for medical expenses before treatment, with Prudential directly settling approved costs afterward. Customers also receive priority appointment bookings and room arrangements.
Joyce Smith, regional chief commercial officer of IHH Healthcare North Asia, said the collaboration responds to rising demand for cross-border healthcare. “This enhanced collaboration with Prudential helps integrate the strengths of both the insurance and healthcare ecosystems, providing clients who travel frequently between Shanghai and Hong Kong with a more seamless medical experience,” Smith said.
Bupa Hong Kong and Tencent on Thursday launched Hong Kong’s first palm verification check-in service for healthcare at 20 designated clinics under the Bupa Medical Network.
The flagship medical center in Central, along with locations in Tsim Sha Tsui and Admiralty, features palm-scan technology powered by Tencent PalmAI, while other clinics offer QR code-based express check-in.
The AI-driven biometric system captures palm print and palm vein patterns for authentication. Customers place their palm over a high-precision scanner at check-in kiosks for instant verification, without removing masks or having physical contact with staff.
“By leveraging Tencent’s advanced PalmAI technology - which integrates dual biometric identification using both palm print and palm vein patterns - we are enabling a secure, contactless, and truly frictionless check-in experience,” said Steven Choi, general manager of Tencent Cloud Hong Kong & Macau.
Yvonne Leung, chief customer, data & digital officer at Bupa Hong Kong, said the rollout reflects the insurer’s focus on digital healthcare innovation.
According to a news release, Tencent PalmAI has been adopted by tens of millions of users globally since its 2022 launch.
