AXA and UMP announce strategic partnership Introducing inaugural outpatient clinic services to fulfil the medical needs of Hong Kong residents living and travelling to the mainland
Providing convenient and premium cross-border medical services for Greater Bay Area customers
HONG KONG, Nov. 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- AXA Hong Kong and Macau ("AXA") and UMP Healthcare Holdings Limited ("UMP", Stock Code: 722) jointly announced a strategic partnership to provide one-stop premium cross-border medical and healthcare services and experiences to customers. This marks AXA's maiden venture into expanding its general practitioner clinic services to mainland China, considerably strengthening the medical service support for customers in the Greater Bay Area. By leveraging UMP's extensive medical networks and administrative arrangements, AXA provides customers in the mainland with access to a broader range of medical treatment options and superior medical services.
With the accelerated development in the Greater Bay Area leading to more frequent cross-border travel, the demand for cross-border medical and healthcare services has grown significantly. Responding to this, AXA and UMP have forged a strategic partnership that incorporates UMP's mainland China clinics into AXA's medical network. This expansion covers key cities in the Greater Bay Area, including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Foshan, and Zhuhai, while also reaching out to a network of clinics in Beijing, Shanghai and Chongqing, totaling around 20 service points. This partnership amplifies AXA's medical service network in the Greater Bay Area, and provides diverse medical support to customers in major mainland cities.
Eligible customers can enjoy a cashless service at designated mainland clinics. Moreover, customers can benefit from cross-border specialist referral services if further medical attention is required. Medical transportation services can be arranged for customers to return to Hong Kong for further treatment and follow-up care, including but not limited to oncology diagnosis and treatment, day surgeries and medical imaging examinations.
Emily Li, Chief Employee Benefits and Wellness Officer at AXA, said, "We are delighted to deepen our partnership with UMP, effectively leveraging the strengths of both companies to enhance the quality of cross-border healthcare services. This partnership allows customers who reside in the mainland and/or frequently travel to the Greater Bay Area to enjoy convenient and exceptional medical services on par with Hong Kong's high standards. The inclusion of general practitioner clinics from mainland China into our network and the establishment of a one-stop cross-border medical experience represent important milestones in our growth strategy in mainland China. By offering more comprehensive networks and diversified, personalised healthcare protections and services, we demonstrate our commitment to fully supporting our customers' needs. This is a testament to our role as a trusted lifelong partner for our customers."
Jacquen Kwok, Executive Director and Co-Chief Executive Officer at UMP, said, "As one of the few platforms in Hong Kong offering medical network management and administration, UMP understands the importance of aligning the geographical reach of healthcare services with changes in people's living territories, thereby ensuring enhanced medical services and convenience to cross-border residents. We take great delight in retaining AXA's trust by delivering medical network service for their clientele over the years. The prospect of extending our partnership into mainland China presents an exciting opportunity. It enables us to harness our profound expertise in cross-regional medical network management and deliver full services, including patient referrals, in-patient admissions, and settlements. AXA's robust market acumen and forward-thinking business strategy enable it to respond timely to customers' dynamic needs, which aligns well with UMP's strategic focus. Moving onward, I am excited to explore further opportunities to offer users increasingly bespoke and personalised health solutions."
Under the partnership between AXA and UMP, eligible AXA customers are set to enjoy customer service in the mainland that parallels the superior standards customary in Hong Kong. Customers can conveniently access information about AXA's designated clinics in mainland China through Emma by AXA, a one-stop digital mobile application for AXA insurance and health wellness services. On the day of the appointment, customers simply present their medical card and identification document to clinic staff to enjoy the avail cashless medical services without having to make any cash payment.
If a customer is diagnosed with a condition requiring further medical intervention, the designated clinic in the mainland can issue a referral letter to specialist. Upon receiving such service requests, UMP will assist with scheduling an appointment to allow customers to promptly visit the pre-booked specialist clinic in Hong Kong upon their return from the mainland. This ensures they will receive professional advice and treatment in a timely manner. If necessary, the customer will be arranged to visit a medical centre for diagnostic image examination, including PET-CT, MRI, etc., to obtain a more accurate diagnosis. Additionally, customers can access UMP's day surgery centres, where a team of experienced specialist doctors can conduct day surgical procedures.
In the event of a diagnosis requiring urgent medical attention, cross-border medical transportation services will be arranged for the customer to receive treatment or in-depth examinations at a designated specialist or private hospital within the Hong Kong medical network. This approach ensures we provide thorough care for cross-border customers, enhancing customers' healthcare experience.
Furthermore, AXA has strategically incorporated UMP's oncology centres, offering a full suite of solutions for cancer patients. These include medical services from examination and diagnosis to treatments and rehabilitation. The entire process will be overseen and handled by a specialist medical team in Hong Kong.
Looking ahead, AXA plans to continue expanding its medical network in mainland China, covering screenings, colonoscopy and gastroscopy. The goal is to provide customers with a more comprehensive and suitable range of exceptional cross-border healthcare services.
*The above service is subject to relevant terms and conditions. Service availability and locations are subject to change from time to time - please check Emma by AXA app for the latest service and location information.
About AXA Hong Kong and Macau
AXA Hong Kong and Macau is a member of the AXA Group, a leading global insurer with presence in 51 markets and serving 93 million customers worldwide. Our purpose is to act for human progress by protecting what matters.
As one of the most diversified insurers in Hong Kong, we offer integrated solutions across Life, Health and General Insurance. We are the largest General Insurance provider and a major Health and Employee Benefits provider. Our aim is to not only be the insurer to provide comprehensive protection to our customers, but also a holistic partner to the individuals, businesses and community we serve. At the core of our service commitment is continuous product & service innovation and customer experience enrichment, which is achieved through actively listening to our customers' needs and leveraging and investing in technology and digital transformation.
We embrace our responsibility to be a driving force against climate change and a force for good to create shared value for our community. We are proud to be the first to address the importance of mental health through different products and services and thought leading iconic research. Our overall Sustainability Strategy, with emphasis on climate strategy and biodiversity commitment, is developed based on TCFD recommendations. We are committed to integrating environmental, social and governance factors across our business and strive to contribute to a sustainable future through 3 distinct roles - as an investor, insurer and an exemplary company.
About UMP Healthcare Holdings Limited
Founded in 1990, UMP Healthcare is a medical group listed on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (stock code 722.HK) and is one of the leading comprehensive healthcare service platforms in the Hong Kong market. We have been committed "To provide comprehensive, diversified and coordinated care for everyone" by creating a network of high-quality and effective medical services for patients, payers, providers and partners.
Along with providing healthcare services that address a wide range of individual needs, UMP Healthcare closely works with more than 2,000 local and international businesses and insurance organisations to establish and administer corporate healthcare benefit programs for members. The medical service network spans over 1,000 self-owned and affiliated institutions across Hong Kong, Macau, and Mainland China, offering services such as family medicine, specialist consultation, dental care, diagnostic imaging and laboratory testing, preventive medicine and health examination, physical therapy, day surgery, and endoscopy, among others.
THIS PRESS RELEASE IS AVAILABLE ON AXA'S WEBSITE: AXA.COM.HK and UMP'S WEBSITE: WWW.UMP.COM.HK
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Certain statements contained herein may be forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, statements that are predictions of or indicate future events, trends, plans or objectives. Undue reliance should not be placed on such statements because, by their nature, they are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and can be affected by other factors that could cause AXA's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Please refer to Part 4 - "Risk factors and risk management" of AXA's Universal Registration Document for the year ended December 31, 2019, for a description of certain important factors, risks and uncertainties that may affect AXA's business, and/or results of operations. AXA undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any of these forward-looking statements, whether to reflect new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise, except as part of applicable regulatory or legal obligations.
SOURCE AXA Hong Kong and Macau
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