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80% of Hong Kongers interested to use AI technology for health management, as revealed by the inaugural Prudential Hong Kong Smart Health Action Index

AI-powered mobile app Pulse by Prudential set to transform the way Hong Kongers manage their health

(20 April 2020, Hong Kong) Prudential Hong Kong Limited (“Prudential”), a trusted insurance partner and market leader in the health and protection space, today unveiled the findings from the inaugural “Prudential Hong Kong Smart Health Action Index” [^]Survey, commissioned by Prudential and conducted by the Hong Kong Productivity Council, which aimed to garner a greater understanding of local Hong Kong people’s attitudes and expectations in adopting health tech to improve their overall health and wellbeing.

According to the survey, 93% of respondents are keen to understand their health condition, of which 69% are interested in using technology devices (such as mobile apps, smart wearables and other electronic devices) to manage their health. Respondents are most interested to use these devices for the self-assessment of health conditions, detection of early symptoms of diseases (69%), as well as conducting initial medical consultation / checking (65%).

80% of respondents showed interest in using AI for health management; AI-powered health mobile app Pulse by Prudential set to meet public needs

The survey also showed that 80% of respondents are interested to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) in managing their health, especially for health assessment (76%), health condition monitoring and alert (64%) and medical consultation (56%). Most of the respondents agreed there are more advantages in using AI compared to traditional health platforms, including its ability to provide immediate responses (91%), without time and geographical limitations (82%), and being able to provide more accurate answers (76%). In addition, 69% of respondents agreed that health-related mobile apps can help them in managing their health.

Ms Priscilla Ng, Chief Customer and Marketing Officer of Prudential said, “We are pleased to see that Hong Kong people have sufficient trust and acceptance of health management technology. While we expect demand for health-tech applications to continue rising in Hong Kong, we believe AI will be key in empowering people to take greater control of their health. Building on our digital capabilities and innovation, our latest AI-powered digital health app, Pulse by Prudential, represents an important milestone in our efforts to help the local community prevent, postpone and protect against the onset of diseases. It is set to improve and transform the way people manage their health through digital innovation.”

By combining human expertise with the power of technology, Pulse – designed as a health buddy on the go – provides personalised, reliable, secure and free health management services, easing public concerns on the data accuracy, pricing and data privacy of health technology. In the initial phase of the launch, Prudential partners with Babylon, a UK-based healthcare technology and services company to provide two features, “Symptom Checker” and “Healthcheck” on Pulse by combining AI technology and medical expertise. Without leaving home, users can take advantage of the 24/7 self-service to access useful health and wellness insights and information based on their personal needs.

Huge potential market in health management technology Pulse recorded nearly 200,000 downloads in the first 24 hours after its launch

Since the launch of Pulse in late March, market response has been overwhelming. Nearly 200,000 downloads were recorded in the first 24 hours of the launch. Since its launch, Pulse has been topping the list in the category of Health & Fitness on both the App Store and Google Play Store in Hong Kong. As of now, Pulse has recorded more than three million downloads across eight markets in Asia, including Hong Kong.

Features of Pulse across the three key phases of the health journey – “prevention", "postponement" and “protection” include:

Prevention

Symptom Checker[*](powered by Babylon, a UK-based healthcare technology and services company)

Enter your symptoms on the AI-powered chatbot to get fast, localised, clinically validated information and recommended next steps to take, right from your mobile phone. As it acts as a “digital-first” gateway for patients when seeking care, the Symptom Checker can also give you a better understanding of worrying symptoms and direct you where best to seek further advice from healthcare professionals. In light of COVID-19, this tool has recently been updated to include coronavirus descriptions to alert users to specific symptoms and conditions that could be caused by or have similar symptoms to coronavirus. Users are also advised to follow the recommendations provided by local health authorities as the COVID-19 situation can evolve rapidly, resulting in shifting government recommendations.

Healthcheck[*]
(powered by Babylon, a UK-based healthcare technology and services company)

Answer a digital questionnaire about your lifestyle, diet, mental health, medical history and family history to create your own health report and get practical insights into your long-term disease risks, the changes you can make to reduce your risk and stay healthy. Build your Digital Twin – a realistic 3D representation of your body - and explore your body from the inside out.

Health Advice

A wide range of health information and tips are available to enrich your health and medical knowledge.

Postponement

Hospital Guide

Get information about Hong Kong hospitals and real-time Accident and Emergency (A&E) waiting time to facilitate any hospital visits.

Air Pollution Index

Learn about the Air Quality Health Index of your surroundings as well as other districts to help plan your outdoor activities

Protection

Prudential Free COVID-19 Protection

From now until 24 April 2020 (subject to a total quota of 500,000, on a first-come-first-served basis), all HK identity card holders aged 18 or above and residing in Hong Kong can enjoy Prudential Free COVID-19 Protection by downloading the new Pulse app and registering their profiles.

Note:

[*] Healthcheck/Symptom checker is provided by a third party service provider Babylon Partners Limited (“Babylon”) through Pulse platform. Babylon is not operated by Prudential Hong Kong Limited (“Prudential”) and Prudential is not its agent. Prudential does not recommend, endorse or approve the services or information provided by Babylon, nor shall it be responsible or liable of the quality or accuracy of the same. Prudential will not be liable or responsible for loss or damage directly or indirectly resulting from any use or misuse of or reliance on the service or information provided by Babylon.

[^] Independently conducted by HKPC and sponsored by Prudential, the survey was undertaken from December 2019 to January 2020 with 1,500 Hong Kong citizens aged between 20 and 54 being interviewed. Quota sampling was adopted for face-to-face interviews categorised by age range.

 

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About Pulse by Prudential

Pulse is a digital health app and the first of its kind in the region to offer holistic health management to consumers. Using AI-powered self-help tools and real-time information, the app serves as a 24/7 health and wellness partner to users, helping them prevent, postpone, and protect against the onset of diseases. Pulse is part of Prudential’s region-wide strategy to provide affordable and accessible healthcare to everyone across Asia by leveraging digital technologies and best-in-class partnerships.

Following the regional launch of Pulse in Malaysia in 2019, Pulse will be available in 11 markets across Asia, including Hong Kong, supported by a growing suite of regional and local service providers such as Babylon (Symptom Checker and Healthcheck).

Pulse can be downloaded for free from Apple and Google Play stores.

About Prudential Hong Kong

Prudential has been serving the people of Hong Kong since 1964. Through Prudential Hong Kong Limited and Prudential General Insurance Hong Kong Limited, we provide a range of financial planning services and products including individual life insurance, investment-linked insurance, retirement solutions, health and medical protection, general insurance and employee benefits.

Prudential plc is an Asia-led portfolio of businesses focused on structural growth markets. The business helps individuals to de-risk their lives and deal with their biggest financial concerns through life and health insurance, and retirement and asset management solutions. Prudential plc has 20 million customers and is listed on stock exchanges in London, Hong Kong, Singapore and New York.

Prudential plc is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential Financial, Inc., a company whose principal place of business is in the United States of America or with the Prudential Assurance Company, a subsidiary of M&G plc, a company incorporated in the United Kingdom.

Please visit www.prudential.com.hk for more information.