the first official medical partner of “AXA Signature Network” in the Greater Bay Area.

AXA Hong Kong and University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital (“HKU-SZH”) held a contract signing ceremony announcing HKU-SZH as the first official medical partner of “AXA Signature Network” (“the Network”) in the Greater Bay Area on May 21, 2019. AXA Hong Kong’s customers are entitled to insurance direct-billing service under the AXA Signature Network.

Yi-mien Koh, Managing Director of Health and Employee Benefits of AXA Hong Kong and Professor Chung-mau Lo, Chief Executive of University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital (HKU-SZH)

Increasing numbers of Hong Kong people and Mainlanders are traveling between Hong Kong & Shenzhen with some Hongkongers now residing on the Mainland. According to the Outline Development Plan for Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the Greater Bay Area has a population of approximately 70 million. The number of Hong Kong permanent residents who have stayed in Guangdong Province for six months or more (i.e around 183 days) reached 540,000 in 2018 as estimated by HKSAR Government (Census & Statistics).

For AXA Hong Kong, the new cooperation will not only provide more choices for customers who frequently travel between the two regions but also enhance the medical service and competitiveness of local industry in the Greater Bay Area.

HKU-SZH is a National-3A major comprehensive public hospital built by the Shenzhen municipal government with a modern management model introduced by the University of Hong Kong (“HKU”). The Hospital has attained the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS) accreditation and was selected as a high-level hospital in Guangdong Province in June 2018. HKU-SZH has also begun to increase its total bed complement to 3,000 from the current 2,000 beds in operation. Leveraging on HKU’s medical disciplines, it has established six centres of excellence – in Reproductive Medicine & Prenatal Diagnosis, Comprehensive Cancer Treatment, Cardiovascular Therapy, Orthopedics and Traumatology, Organ Transplantation and Infectious Diseases.

“AXA Signature Network” is the first in the market with experienced Network doctors to offer the best quality medical services and second medical opinions to customers. With participation from six top private hospitals in Hong Kong, the network will have support from 500 general and specialist doctors, in the areas of Pediatric Surgery, Neurosurgery, Infectious Diseases, Cardiothoracic Surgery and more. The Network covers Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, the New Territories, and regions in the Greater Bay Area.

Previously, seeking medical treatment in the Mainland was a time-consuming and troublesome process. With requirements for settling the fee upfront, or with only the deposit being waived, customers sometimes would even need to bring pre-approved documents. Now, the Network has also expanded the credit hospitalisation service to HKU-SZH.  Whether in Hong Kong or the Mainland, customers can easily log onto the AXA application or call the 24-hour Hong Kong Customer Service Hotline for simple pre-approval. Presenting a medical card upon admission, access to consultation and credit service will be possible.

If further professional support is needed, customers can call the Hong Kong Customer Service Hotline for referral to a nurse or medical professional for follow-up. AXA Hong Kong will also assist clients with critical illnesses to seek second medical opinions from network registered doctors or third-party medical experts, ensuring that they receive proper clinical care.Currently, AXA Hong Kong is the first and only Hong Kong insurance company that has a direct billing agreement with the IMC,” said Dr. Christopher Hui, Deputy Director of International Medical Centre, University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital.

HKU-SZH has established the International Medical Centre (“IMC”) to provide high-end medical services with internationally advanced standards. The IMC is located separately in the block V building of HKU-SZH, with a total area of 35,000 square metres, comprising more than 200 wards. The IMC is staffed with overseas and HKU professor-level doctors, as well as senior doctors from the Mainland, providing premium health care services in the local market and to foreigners. Medical services at IMC include General Services, Internal Medicine, Surgery, Orthopedics, Pediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Oncology, Chinese Medicine, Reproductive Medicine, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Ophthalmology, Dermatology, Otorhinolaryngology, Dental, Postpartum Rehabilitation, Health Management, 24-hour A&E and inpatient services.

“We are thrilled to be working with AXA Hong Kong in bringing a quality service experience to patients. HKU-SZH will establish four international centres for the Greater Bay Area, including the International Medical Centre, Medical Talent Training Centre, Medical Science and Technology Innovation Centre, and Hospital Management Innovation Centre, to advance and promote the integration of medical service, teaching, research and management” said Professor Chung-mau Lo, Chief Executive of University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital.

Source: AXA Hong Kong