Press Releases

25 Nov 2024

CUHK Medical Centre Hosts “Innovation Symposium - Pioneering Solutions in Healthcare 2024” To Promote Empathy and Patient Experience

CUHK Medical Centre (CUHKMC) held the “Innovation Symposium - Pioneering Solutions in Healthcare 2024” on 23 November 2024, featuring a series of inspirational panel sessions and talks by distinguished speakers and professionals in healthcare and innovation technology. As the third event after its debut in 2021, this year’s event aims to promote empathy and patient experience, and attracted more than 340 industry leaders and members of the public attending in person and online. In his opening remarks, Dr. Chien LEE, Chairman of the Board of CUHKMC, said, “‘Empathy’ and ‘Innovation’, two seemingly unrelated concepts, are actually intertwined in healthcare. These two elements when properly balanced, lay the foundation for exceptional patient care, ultimately improving patient outcome and experience. When innovators of healthcare grasp the importance of empathy, they will be able to use the rigours of creative thinking to find answers to patients’ challenges.” On 23 November, the symposium consisted of two sessions. In the morning session themed “Empathy and Innovation: The Future of Healthcare”, it featured three panel sessions delivered by eminent medical professionals and innovation technology experts, targeting at professionals in healthcare industry. Mr. Amir Dan RUBIN, CEO of Healthier Capital, shared his insights for leading in patient experience with audience.  Dr. Alexander NG, President of Tencent Healthcare, gave a keynote address on how to encounter the healthcare challenges of the Mainland with a population of 1.4 billion. Ms. LEE Chen Ee, Group Director for Innovation and Transformation of SingHealth, was present to deliver an address on patient-centered innovation. In the afternoon session themed “Care from Heart: Heartwarming Moments between Doctors and Patients”, professors from The Chinese University of Hong Kong as well as CUHKMC specialists and medical professionals hosted 7 health talks covering a vast range of topics, including dementia, cancer treatment, heart disease, etc. Family members of patients were also present to share about their caregiver’s journey. (Please refer to the Appendix (in Chinese only) for detailed rundown). Dr. Hong FUNG, Chief Executive Officer of CUHKMC, said, “Empathy is the key to providing healthcare services. Cultivating empathy is crucial to understanding the needs and feelings of patients and their caregivers. The exchange of knowledge and experience could promote the rationale of empathy and patient experience. That is why we have organised this Symposium, bringing together the industry leaders, innovators and technology experts, to discuss and explore how we could enhance the experience of patients and caregivers in healthcare services.”  On the following day of the Symposium (24 November), an Open House was organised to showcase some of the major services and technologies of CUHKMC to members of the public, including Radiotherapy Centre, Imaging & Interventional Radiology Centre, Cardiology Centre, Endoscopy Centre, Urology Centre, Eye Centre and Wellness Centre. The Open House was attended by around 300 people on the day.    Appendix (in Chinese only) 公眾講座「從心出發︰醫患溫暖瞬間」內容 認知障礙有得醫 中大醫學院內科及藥物治療學系教授莫仲棠教授 癌症病人如何善用公私醫療系統 中大醫學院腫瘤學系教授陳林教授 點樣用電去拯救生命 中大醫院心臟科專科醫生鄭裕康醫生 長者照顧者的日與夜 中大醫院老人科專科醫生何韻施醫生 急你所急：三言兩語中的理性與藝術 中大醫院急症科專科醫生梁子恒醫生 愛的灌溉：助產士與產婦同行 中大醫院婦產科護士陳曉燕助產士 治療、掙扎、同理心 中大醫院專職醫療服務主任及註冊物理治療師劉敏昌教授 李盛林牧師

14 Oct 2024

CUHK Medical Centre, FWD Hong Kong, and Pfizer Hong Kong partner to raise migraine awareness　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Building a health information platform to help the public cope with migraine and provide free online assessments and professional follow-up

Migraine is a common type of moderate to severe headache, with more severe pains having an adverse impact on people’s daily lives¹. Research² has shown that around 12.5% of Hong Kong’s population suffers from migraine, especially among people aged 18 to 44³. Furthermore, women are three to four times more likely to suffer from migraine than men⁴. In response, CUHK Medical Centre (“CUHKMC”), FWD Hong Kong (“FWD”), and Pfizer Hong Kong collaborate to raise awareness and help the public to cope with migraine. FWD MAX lifestyle experience platform (fwdmax.fwd.com.hk) will publish a series of information on migraine and provide a free online migraine assessment. The first 50 users who meet the relevant health conditions can also receive a free migraine assessment service provided by the Clinical Neuroscience Centre of CUHKMC⁵, encouraging users to seek professional assistance and follow-up at the earliest opportunity. FWD MAX launches free online assessment to identify migraine risks early Many patients lack a full understanding of migraine, and incorrectly dismiss it as common headache to be cured by taking painkillers by themselves. This not only fails to address the real underlying issue, but risks making it worse through overuse of painkillers. To help the public identify and strengthen their understanding of migraine earlier, FWD MAX will continue to provide relevant health information and offer a free online migraine assessment. Users will be able to gain insights into their migraine health by answering five simple questions. Ken LAU, Managing Director of Greater China and Hong Kong Chief Executive Officer, FWD, said: “Urban dwellers live busy lifestyles and easily fall into the habit of neglecting their health. As an insurance company, FWD fully understands the importance of early diagnosis and treatment when it comes to effective health management. We provide comprehensive medical protection products and services, and actively collaborate with various medical institutions, covering services from prevention and treatment to rehabilitation stages. Our collaboration with CUHKMC and Pfizer Hong Kong specifically aims to enhance public awareness of migraine, hoping to encourage users in need to actively seek professional assistance, address their migraine troubles, and live a healthy life.” Don’t ignore migraine: early treatment brings relief, information platform empowers prevention Migraine is a common neurological disease. Patients experience severe headaches, usually coupled with nausea or vomiting, and it can last up to 72 hours at its worst, preventing patients from working or living normally. The causes of migraine, however, are complicated. Family history, hormonal changes in women, lack of sleep, stress, anxiety, smoking, and even weather changes can all trigger migraine. Early treatment is especially important for controlling migraine because it alleviates symptoms more effectively, while also reducing both the frequency and severity of attacks. CUHKMC and Pfizer Hong Kong will regularly share professional information on FWD MAX to help patients understand the causes, symptoms, and treatments of migraine, empowering them to master the way of preventive care. Dr Hong FUNG, Chief Executive Officer of CUHK Medical Centre, said, “CUHKMC is committed to promoting public health education and enhancing public awareness towards diseases, as well as the importance of prevention and early treatment, which can ultimately improve the population health in the long run. This time, we are pleased to collaborate with FWD Hong Kong and Pfizer Hong Kong, enabling more people to pay attention to migraine issues. This initiative helps those with migraine risks to be aware of their own conditions earlier and receive appropriate treatment advice through the programme, preventing the problem from worsening due to delayed treatment.” Three institutions join hands to promote and raise public awareness of migraine, one of the world’s most common diseases “We are excited to join forces with CUHKMC and FWD Hong Kong in the fight against migraine and help those patients impacted by this debilitating neurological disease,” said Krishnamoorthy SUNDARESAN, General Manager, Pfizer Hong Kong and Macau. “We believe this partnership will significantly increase public awareness on the disease and the subsequent burden, in order to co-create a more supportive environment for patients living with migraine pain.” Free online assessment for the first 50 users who meet the relevant health conditions to receive a free migraine assessment service Visit https://fwdmax.fwd.com.hk/en/Events/migraine2024 or download the FWD MAX app to learn about migraine and take the online migraine assessment. All users who complete the online assessment will receive a convenience store e-cash coupon worth HKD20. The first 50 users who meet relevant health conditions can also receive a free migraine assessment service (valued at HKD500)⁵ provided by the Clinical Neuroscience Centre of CUHKMC, encouraging users to seek early professional assistance and follow-up.   ¹ NHS. Migraine: Overview. Available at: www.nhs.uk/conditions/migraine/. Accessed Feb 2023; Peters GL. Am J Manag Care 2019;25:S23-S34; Pescador Ruschel MA, De Jesus O. Migraine Headaches. Available at: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560787/. Accessed Feb 2023; Mayo Clinic. Migraine: Symptoms & causes. Available at: www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/migraine-headache/symptoms-causes/syc-20360201. Accessed Feb 2023; National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Headache. Available at: www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/headache. Accessed Feb 2023;  ² Cheung, Raymond TF. Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain 40.6 (2000): 473-479. ³ Peters GL. Am J Manag Care 2019;25:S23-S34.   ⁴ Al-Hassany L, Haas J, et al. Frontiers in Neurology. 2020;11:549038. ⁵ Terms and conditions apply, available while stocks last. FWD Life, in its sole discretion, determines the qualification for receiving the prize. The e-coupon will be credited into users' registered FWD MAX account's "Just for you" wallet within 30 days. Migraine assessment service is provided by the CUHK Medical Centre. The first 50 eligible participants will receive a redemption letter 10 working days after completing the questionnaire. The redemption letter will be sent by FWD MAX to the users’ registered FWD MAX email address. Please refer to the redemption letter for the redemption and booking details.  

16 Sep 2024

中大醫院加盟成為友邦香港客戶網絡醫院 讓病人於中大醫院享有預先批核及出院免找數服務 助清晰掌握醫療費用預算 安心專注治療 (Only available in Chinese)

Only available in Chinese

02 Aug 2024

CUHK Medical Centre Attains ACHSI Accreditation for the First Time

CUHK Medical Centre (CUHKMC) has successfully attained the accreditation from The Australian Council on Healthcare Standards International (ACHSI) on 8 July 2024. The recognition was granted after a comprehensive on-site assessment conducted by the survey team from 17 to 21 June, where all 856 applicable elements were met with no recommendations, in accordance with the 38 criteria in the 7th edition of the Evaluation and Quality Improvement Program (EQuIP7). Dr. Hong FUNG, Chief Executive Officer of CUHK Medical Centre, said, “For CUHKMC that has operated for only 33 months since official opening, this result is undoubtedly encouraging for all of us. The accreditation is a testimony to the concerted effort and dedication of the entire team. CUHKMC will continue to perfect its services and to provide patients with quality and safe medical care.”

11 Mar 2024

Bowtie partners with CUHK Medical Centre to launch the "Medical Insurance + Wellness" Package

Bowtie, Hong Kong's first virtual insurer¹ , is thrilled to announce the partnership with CUHK Medical Centre (CUHKMC), introducing the latest "CUHKMC Wellness Package". This is Bowtie's second VHIS rider plan²; Bowtie aims to continue its previous collaboration with another hospital, proactively promoting a one-stop "Medical Insurance + Wellness" solution for customers residing in different regions, enabling them to enjoy high-end private medical services at an affordable price. Full Reimbursement for 360+ Medical Packages with Transparent Prices Bowtie, CUHKMC, and other private hospitals engaged in the "Pilot Programme for Enhancing Price Transparency for Private Hospitals", shared an aligned rationale of enhancing transparency in pricing by promoting fixed-priced medical packages, enabling customers to clearly acknowledge their medical expenses and manage their medical budget accordingly. For Bowtie’s VHIS-Flexi Plan customers who have selected the "CUHKMC Wellness Package", Bowtie will provide full reimbursement for a wide range of package fees, including 139 day procedures and 228 inpatient operation/ procedures packages. It covers all doctors’ fees and all hospital charges for procedure-related standard items and drugs, which also cover expenses over complications and intensive care arising from the operation/procedure, ensuring they are spared from unexpected financial burdens and could focus solely on their treatment. One-stop "Medical Insurance + Wellness" Solution for "Cashless Hospitalisation" Experience In addition to helping patients have a clearer understanding of their medical budgets, through forging closer collaboration with CUHKMC, Bowtie endeavors to streamline the medical record retrieval process for insurance companies by facilitating the adoption of pre-approval application services, in order to significantly shorten or even waive patients’ long waiting for the reimbursement, which could often amount to substantial sums.  Currently, Bowtie offers its VHIS customers the convenience of downloading the pre-approval form online, and having it filled out by their attending doctors. Once the case is approved, customers will be eligible for the "Cashless Hospitalisation" service. While for the customers who have selected "CUHKMC Wellness Package", they will be issued a specific medical card; by presenting this card for identification purposes, CUHKMC will automatically initiate a pre-approval application to Bowtie on behalf of the patient, eliminating their need to undertake any administrative procedures throughout the entire process. Yearly Personalised Free Check-ups with Targeted Examinations Recommended by Doctors In alignment with the "Early Detection & Timely Intervention" principle outlined in the "Primary Healthcare Blueprint" and considering the increasing prevalence of chronic illnesses among the population, Bowtie and CUHKMC offer comprehensive and tailored physical examination for customers who have selected the "CUHKMC Wellness Package". Unlike the conventional physical examination packages, the customers will be able to enjoy a thorough health consultation session and annual body check at free of charge, as well as BowtiePoints equivalent to HKD 1,500 to manage their personal health effectively. After consultation with a doctor for their professional advice, the customers will be able to conduct an all-rounded body check; after that, they can also use BowtiePoints to choose from over 20 targeted examination items or health services based on their specific needs. Fred NGAN, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Bowtie, stated, "We have received a very positive response to the first rider product, nearly 20% of Bowtie’s VHIS-Flexi Plan policyholders have chosen to select it. We are confident that introducing similar offerings in partnership with CUHK Medical Centre will enable us to innovate on top of the solid foundation built by VHIS, better cater to medical and wellness needs of citizens residing in the New Territories through transparent prices." Dr. Hong FUNG, Chief Executive Officer of CUHK Medical Centre, said, "We are delighted to collaborate with Bowtie in providing convenient and quality healthcare services to the public. Package fee is transparent and predictable to both patient and insurance company. This collaboration demonstrates the beauty of package fee, leading to a win-win situation for all three parties. On the other hand, the annual free check-up offered by Bowtie can encourage the public to develop the habit of attending health checks on a regular basis, echoing one of the goals of primary healthcare - early detection and early treatment." The "CUHKMC Wellness Package'' is now available for Bowtie’s VHIS Flexi Plan customers, with a monthly premium of HK$200 regardless of age and gender³. To learn more about the details, please visit: https://www.bowtie.com.hk/en/insurance/vhis/hospital-rider/cuhkmc.   ¹ Bowtie is the first company authorized by Hong Kong’s Insurance Authority under its Fast Track Pilot Scheme ² "CUHKMC Wellness Package" is not a certified plan under VHIS ³ "CUHKMC Wellness Package" must be paired with the Bowtie’s VHIS-Flexi Plan and cannot be purchased independently

06 Feb 2024

Opening Ceremony of CUHKMC Neurocognitive Centre; Establishment of Neurocognitive Registry Drives Momentum in Medical Research

CUHK Medical Centre (CUHKMC) established a Neurocognitive Centre with the generous donation from Mr. and Mrs. Maximilian MA to provide early detection and treatment to people affected by related diseases. A Neurocognitive Registry is set up to propel medical research in this aspect. The Neurocognitive Centre is a major part of CUHKMC Clinical Neuroscience Centre (CNC), where CNC is established to provide multi-disciplinary and one-stop neurology and neurosurgery care by consolidating outpatient and inpatient service at CUHKMC, in view of increasing medical needs on dementia, stroke or neurological impairment. Two major service scopes of the CNC include early detection of dementia and rehabilitation on neurodegenerative diseases (e.g. Parkinson’s disease and stroke).  Regarding detection of dementia, the CNC has deployed cutting-edge technology, in particular the high-sensitivity Single Molecule Array digital equipment. It identifies specific biomarkers from blood sample and allows early detection of dementia patients. Furthermore, the CNC can leverage AI-powered AccuBrain to better analyse MRI images and identify dementia patients at an early stage. While on rehabilitation, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), Robotics, Exoskeleton and Virtual Reality (VR) technologies are used to facilitate patients’ rehabilitative exercise and training. The Division of Neurology at the Department of Medicine & Therapeutics of CUHK Faculty of Medicine, together with The Charles K. Kao Foundation for Alzheimer’s Disease, previously launched a free Alzheimer’s disease (AD) screening and assessment service, “Charles Kao CUHK BEAT AD Service” (The BEAT AD), for Hong Kong residents. In light of this, the CNC at CUHKMC joins forces with them to establish a “Neurocognitive Registry”. The initiative is poised to advance medical research on dementia and AD. The BEAT AD involves the use of AI-assisted retinal imaging screening for early AD and provision of tailor-made advice on prevention of AD. Follow-up cases screened by the BEAT AD project will be referred to CUHKMC for further subsidised diagnosis and treatment. CUHKMC aims to identify AD patients at an early stage through advanced neuro-diagnosis and multi-disciplinary intervention programme. Dr. Hong FUNG, Chief Executive Officer of CUHKMC, said, “CUHKMC has earlier established the Clinical Neuroscience Centre (CNC). We are grateful for Mr. and Mrs. Maximilian MA’s generous support, which has made it possible for us to establish the Neurocognitive Centre inside the CNC to treat patients with advanced facilities and equipment. Early prevention, detection and intervention can delay the onset of cognitive problems, especially dementia. Thus, we have joined hands with CUHK and The Charles K. Kao Foundation for Alzheimer’s Disease to establish the ‘Neurocognitive Registry’ to collect clinical data for research purposes, in the hope of achieving breakthroughs in neurocognitive disorder treatment.”

18 Dec 2023

CUHK Medical Centre Hosts “Innovation Symposium - Pioneering Solutions in Healthcare 2023” To Promote New Medical Experience

The “CUHK Medical Centre (CUHKMC) Innovation Symposium - Pioneering Solutions in Healthcare 2023” came to a successful close on 17 December 2023, featuring a series of inspirational and thought-provoking panel sessions and talks by heavyweight speakers and professionals on novel technology in medicine and healthcare. As the second event after its debut in 2021, this year’s event had attracted more than 580 industry leaders and members of the public attending in person and online. In his opening remarks, Dr. Chien LEE, Chairman of the Board of CUHKMC, said, “In the past, people have witnessed the advancements of vaccines and medications, but the past decades have seen more technological advances, revolutionising the healthcare sector. Advances such as artificial intelligence and robotic surgery are transforming healthcare globally, enhancing efficiency of healthcare systems, and boosting clinical practice precision.” The symposium consisted of two sessions. In the morning session themed “Visioning Futures”, targeting at industry and medical professionals, featured four panel sessions delivered by eminent medical professionals and technology experts.  Professor Philip CHIU, Associate Dean (External Affairs) of the Faculty of Medicine and Professor of the Department of Surgery at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) gave a keynote address on the future of robotic surgery.  Professor Joseph SUNG, Distinguished University Professor, Senior Vice President (Health & Life Sciences) and Dean, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, was present to deliver an address on AI in medicine.  Professor Teodor GRANTCHAROV, Professor of Surgery (General Surgery) of the School of Medicine of Stanford University, United States, shared with the audience on how to ensure patient safety in operating room. Ms Fan YANG, Overseas Healthcare Market & Cooperation Representative of the Global Public Sector of Huawei, talked about the future of Internet of Things (IoT) and Internet of Medical Things (IoMT). In the afternoon session themed “Current Advances @ CUHKMC”, CUHK professors and CUHKMC specialists hosted 12 health talks covering a vast range of topics related to minimally invasive surgery, medical innovation and advancement in cancer treatment, to share with public the latest development of medical treatments. (Please refer to the Appendix (in Chinese only) for detailed rundown).  Dr. Hong FUNG, Chief Executive Officer of CUHKMC, said, “Innovation and technology has been playing a significant role in healthcare, and which emphasizes collaboration between working teams, and with counterparts and partners as well. The exchange of knowledge is crucial for advancing innovation and technology. That’s why we have organised this Symposium, to bring together thought leaders, technology experts and innovators to discuss and explore the endless possibilities and implications of innovation technology in healthcare.” The hospital’s first Open House was also organised on the same day, showcasing some of the major services and technologies to members of the public, including Radiotherapy Centre, Imaging & Interventional Radiology Centre, Cardiology Centre, Urology Centre, Eye Centre and Day Surgery Centre.  Appendix (In Chinese only) 醫學新猷健康講座內容 微創手術治療 如何透過白內障手術矯正近視、遠視、散光和老花眼 譚智勇教授 內鏡機械人對早期腸胃癌的治療：從實驗室到臨床 趙偉仁教授 治療良性前列腺增生及前列腺癌的最新微創手術 趙家鋒教授 機械人輔助腹腔鏡前列腺切除術 侯仕明醫生 醫學創新 運動醫學新紀元：創新科技與醫體融合 容樹恒教授 冠狀動脈鈣化血管處理的新技術 陳裕豪醫生 介入性取栓治療 - 中風病人新希望 蔡紹俊醫生 以人工智能擊退腦退化 莫仲棠教授 癌症治療 癌症治療新方向：精和準 陳林教授 肺癌治療的多模式攻略新時代 司徒達麟醫生 微創肝切除術在肝癌治療的最新發展 吳國際醫生 精準腫瘤治療：核磁影像導向放射治療臨床經驗分享 唐美思醫生

12 Dec 2023

中大醫院和互康集團攜手推出醫院賬單理賠分拆服務 提升醫療費用透明度 香港永明金融有限公司高度支持 (Only available in Chinese)

Only available in Chinese

11 Dec 2023

Manulife Hong Kong and CUHK Medical Centre Expand Partnership To Offer Cashless Pre-Approval Service for CUHK Medical Centre’s Over 300 All-Inclusive Hospital Packages

Manulife Hong Kong and CUHK Medical Centre announced today the expansion of their partnership to offer a cashless pre-approval service for over 300 all-inclusive hospital packages, including endoscopic and surgical procedures, provided by CUHK Medical Centre. Upon obtaining pre-approval, Manulife customers with selected medical plans can now access these hospital packages without paying upfront, thereby ensuring increased peace of mind and flexibility. The expanded partnership between Manulife Hong Kong and CUHK Medical Centre underscores their shared commitment to meeting the community’s growing health and protection needs. This collaboration is in line with Manulife’s strategic vision of expanding its medical provider network in Hong Kong and other cities within the Greater Bay Area (GBA), as well as in other parts of Mainland China. It also aligns with CUHK Medical Centre’s mission of delivering quality healthcare services at predictable package fees. “We are proud of our extended partnership with CUHK Medical Centre, which has enabled us to give our customers with selected medical plans easy access to a diverse range of all-inclusive hospital packages covering day and inpatient medical services, all at predictable prices,” said Carrie TONG, Chief Operations Officer at Manulife Hong Kong and Macau. “CUHK Medical Centre’s commitment to quality patient-centred services and clinical excellence perfectly aligns with our own dedication towards providing an exceptional customer journey.” The all-inclusive packages provide Manulife customers with budget certainty while offering well-rounded medical coverage and professional medical services. These packages include hospital room and board, surgeon’s fees, doctor’s visits, medical appliances and more – all under the established clinical governance of CUHK Medical Centre. Dr. Hong FUNG, Chief Executive Officer of CUHK Medical Centre, said: “We are delighted to extend our partnership with Manulife, which we believe will bring about a synergy in delivering quality patient care to those in need. By integrating our package fees with Manulife’s cashless pre-approval arrangement, we aim to provide a seamless and hassle-free patient journey, making it a truly one-stop experience. This echoes well with our patient-first rationale and our mission of providing healthcare services at predictable fees to the community.” In-person and onsite support for a seamless medical experience As part of the expanded partnership, customers with designated plans can benefit from the dedicated support of Manulife's Personalized Medical Case Managers (PMCM). The PMCM team, which includes registered nurses and professionals with healthcare backgrounds, will be assigned to assist customers throughout their treatment journey and ease any health worries they may have. Moving forward, the PMCM service will be expanded to cover other complex surgeries. In addition, onsite ambassadors will be available at CUHK Medical Centre to provide Manulife customers with on-the-spot support for cashless pre-approval, hospital services, and language assistance. This ensures that customers have a superior experience and feel reassured during their visit to CUHK Medical Centre. This latest collaboration builds on Manulife’s earlier partnership with CUHK Medical Centre in 2021, which provided Manulife customers with priority access to CUHK Medical Centre’s oncologists for a one-time, free independent medical consultation.