Media Release

From right to left:
(Mrs. Joyce Smith, Chief Commercial Officer of Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong and Regional Chief Commercial Officer of IHH Healthcare North Asia; Dr. Kenneth Tsang, Chief Executive Officer of Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong and Regional Chief Executive Officer of IHH Healthcare North Asia; Mr. Fred Ngan, Co-Founder of Bowtie; Mr. Jacky Lio, Chief Medical Officer of Bowtie)

(14 March 2025 - Hong Kong) Bowtie, Hong Kong’s first virtual insurer,collaborates with Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong (Gleneagles), Asia’s first private hospital to offer Histotripsy treatment, to enhance the "Bowtie & Gleneagles Hospital Wellness Package".

Through the swift integration of this innovative liver tumor treatment technology into Bowtie’s VHIS rider under Bowtie VHIS Flexi Plan and Bowtie Pink, the collaboration aims to reduce barriers for Hongkongers to access advanced medical services, enabling more patients to benefit from Histotripsy treatment.

This upgrade takes effect immediately. Existing policyholders of Bowtie’s VHIS plans who have opted for the "Gleneagles Hospital Wellness Package" are now eligible for full reimbursement for Histotripsy treatment and can enjoy the service of "Cashless Settlement Application Waiver. This VHIS rider also covers 249 designated "all-inclusive fixed price medical packages" provided by Gleneagles. Patients simply need to indicate they hold this wellness package upon seeking medical treatment at Gleneagles. Bowtie and Gleneagles will handle the service application process, eliminating paperwork and allowing patients to focus entirely on their recovery.

Liver cancer is one of the most pressing issues in Hong Kong, ranking as the fifth most common cancer with 1,612 new cases in 2022 and the third leading cause of cancer deaths with 1,408 deaths in 2023. While 5.6% of Hongkongers carry chronic hepatitis B—one of the key risk factors for liver cancer—advanced treatments are vital for local patients.

Unlike conventional surgery or radiation therapy, Histotripsy employs high-intensity ultrasound waves to destroy and liquefy targeted tumor cells, offering patients an additional, precise option for tumor elimination. Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2023 for the treatment of liver cancer, this technology has gained increasing recognition worldwide.

In Asia, following its introduction to Hong Kong last year, Gleneagles will commence its Histotripsy treatment service towards the end of March. This partnership with Bowtie to enhance the VHIS rider not only lowers the threshold for Hongkongers to access cutting-edge medical services but also underscores Hong Kong’s leadership in medical innovation within the private healthcare landscape.

Mr. Fred Ngan, Co-Founder of Bowtie, stated, "As a home-grown local insurer, Bowtie is committed to unlocking private healthcare services for Hongkongers. We believe our role goes beyond simply financing private care, and we aim to drive innovation and empower patients with greater opportunities to access advanced medical technologies like Histotripsy, making them both accessible and affordable."

Mr. Fred Ngan added, "Recent data reveals that around 20% of eligible VHIS customers have the 'Medical Insurance + Wellness' packages, indicating the strong demand and confidence in private medical services. We are delighted to have partnered with Gleneagles, an like-minded and forward-thinking organization, to bring this collaboration to life. "

Dr. Kenneth Tsang, Chief Executive Officer of Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong and Regional Chief Executive Officer of IHH Healthcare North Asia, stated, "We are excited to offer this transformative Histotripsy treatment for liver cancer with our full-trained medical team, providing an additional treatment option and a new hope for patients. We believe that our collaboration with Bowtie will help further enhance patients’ access to cutting-edge healthcare solutions while providing them with extra peace of mind."

As part of this partnership, Bowtie and Gleneagles are dedicated to providing quality healthcare education to raise awareness about Histotripsy and promote its adoption, ensuring more liver cancer patients can benefit from this groundbreaking technology.

More information about the Histotripsy technology and liver cancer treatment package are available on the website of Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong.