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Prudential teams up with Bangkok Dusit Medical Services to offer customers access to affordable high-quality breast cancer treatment

  • Written by Daily Sun


Through this collaboration, all insured customers of Prudential in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar can seek treatment for breast cancer with cost certainty at BDMS' renowned Bangkok Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. BDMS is the largest private hospital network in Thailand and has established Bangkok Cancer Hospital Wattanosoth, the first private cancer hospital in the country located within Bangkok Hospital.

Customers who are eligible and clinically appropriate* for this value-added service will benefit from a predetermined ceiling amount for a 12-month treatment period, including both treatment costs and certain accommodation expenses[1]. All or part of the treatment costs will be covered by any health insurance policies they may have with Prudential. In addition, customers will have access to translation services, airport pickups, and concierge services.

The collaboration reflects Prudential's commitment to narrow the health and protection gap by making affordable healthcare more accessible. The Asia Pacific region is home to 60 percent of the world's population and accounts for about 50 percent of total global cancer incidence, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit[2]. With rapidly ageing populations and changes in lifestyles and environmental exposures, cancer treatment is expected to play an increasingly important role in the health of the region[3].

Solmaz Altin, Managing Director, Strategic Business Unit, Prudential plc, said, "The claims data across our markets consistently show that cancer treatment is the highest health claim cost for our customers compared to other types of treatment. In Hong Kong and Indonesia for example, breast cancer treatment accounts for over 25 percent of our total cancer-related health claims cost in each market. With increasing healthcare costs, a cancer diagnosis may pose a financial burden on patients and their families.

"Having timely access to quality and affordable healthcare is key to treating the disease and reducing financial challenges. This is why we've partnered with BDMS to offer high-quality medical care for our customers in Asia with the assurance that they do not have to pay more than the agreed maximum amount."

Narumol Noi-am, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Bangkok Dusit Medical Services PLC, said "BDMS is committed to three core concepts: Value, Quality and Priority is You. Through this game changing collaboration with Prudential, we are demonstrating this commitment to providing immediate and cost-effective access for patients outside Thailand requiring life-saving cancer treatment at a leading cancer program in Asia Pacific. Bangkok Cancer Hospital Wattanosoth achieves some of the best five-year breast cancer survival rates in the world equivalent to or even surpassing those at providers in the USA or Western Europe."

[1] Accommodation expenses includes inpatient treatment in the hospital and a capped number of nights' hotel accommodation for staying at a designated hotel while undergoing outpatient radiation and chemotherapy treatment and investigation after chemotherapy

[3] Disparities in access to cancer diagnostics in ASEAN member countries, The Lancet

* BDMS reserves the right to exclude customers that it deems to be clinically inappropriate for the package, including those suffering from stage 4 breast cancer

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About Prudential plc

Prudential plc provides life and health insurance and asset management in 24 markets across Asia and Africa. The business helps people get the most out of life, by making healthcare affordable and accessible and by promoting financial inclusion. Prudential protects people's wealth, helps them grow their assets, and empowers them to save for their goals. The business has dual primary listings on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (2378) and the London Stock Exchange (PRU). It also has a secondary listing on the Singapore Stock Exchange (K6S) and a listing on the New York Stock Exchange (PUK) in the form of American Depositary Receipts. It is a constituent of the Hang Seng Composite Index and is also included for trading in the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect programme and Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect programme.

Prudential is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential Financial, Inc. a company whose principal place of business is in the United States of America, nor with The Prudential Assurance Company Limited, a subsidiary of M&G plc, a company incorporated in the United Kingdom.

About Bangkok Dusit Medical Services

Founded in 1972, Bangkok Dusit Medical Services Public Company Limited or BDMS is one of the most prestigious healthcare networks in the Asia-Pacific region and is ranked in the top 5 globally by market capitalization. The BDMS network comprises more than 50 hospitals across 6 major hospital groups – Bangkok Hospital Group, Samitivej Hospital Group, BNH Hospital, Phyathai Hospital Group, Paolo Hospital Group, Royal Hospital Group, and the BDMS Wellness Clinic. With over 11,000 qualified doctors and 8,000 nurses working for BDMS's medical professional teams, BDMS receives a growing number of international patients who come to BDMS medical facilities to receive a diverse range of treatments from general examinations, IVF, orthopedic surgery, hip and knee replacement, cancer treatment to advanced pediatric care, bone marrow transplants and pediatric heart surgery The BDMS vision is to continue to be recognized as a world-class tertiary healthcare service provider and to continue on the mission BDMS has undergone across the past five decades: to provide patient-focused high-quality medical care and treatment for Thais and international patients with world-class medical services combined with advanced technology and medical equipment.