As Greater Bay Area integration accelerates, demand among Hong Kong residents for medical care in the mainland continues to grow. AlipayHK has today unveiled Hong Kong’s first “Northbound Medical Appointment Booking Service” offered by an e-payment platform, providing a one-stop solution to simplify cross-border healthcare access. The initial phase covers over 100 mainland medical institutions, with plans to expand to more than 300. AlipayHK has also entered into an academic collaboration with the University of Hong Kong (HKU) to advance the digitization of medical services.
Early research by HKU’s SIEW Lab identified information asymmetry as the main barrier for Hong Kong residents seeking medical care in the mainland. However, satisfaction among those who have used mainland healthcare services stands at 73%. Many remain deterred by unfamiliar procedures and long waiting times. To address these pain points, users can now simply open the AlipayHK app, navigate to the “Northbound Spending” section, select “Medical Services,” and search, choose, and book appointments at mainland hospitals—all via mobile, with no need to queue in person.
The service currently covers major cities popular with Hong Kong visitors, including Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Foshan, and Dongguan. It also includes designated dental clinics in Shenzhen that accept the Hong Kong Elderly Medical Voucher Scheme, enabling eligible seniors to book dental appointments in advance. Future plans include expansion to over 300 medical institutions.
Key features of the service include:
- Support for Hong Kong mobile numbers for booking
- Smart filtering by hospital level and proximity
- Push notifications for appointment reminders
- One-time registration for cross-institution bookings, allowing users to “book before they go”
Photo: Ms. Venetia Lee(second from right) , AlipayHK CEO;Prof. Shenjing He (second from left), Head of Department of Urban Planning and Design, The University of Hong Kong, Lady Edith Kotewall Professor in the Built Environment, Founding Director, Social Infrastructure for Equity and Wellbeing (SIEW) Lab, The University of Hong Kong; Prof. Sophia Chan Siu Chee (first from left),Senior Advisor,President’s Office, HKU, Professor and Director, HKU Primary Health Care Academy, Head, WHO Collaborating Centre for Health and Nursing Workforce Development in Primary Health Care；Mr Leiming Chen (first from right),Senior Vice President, Ant Group.
AlipayHK CEO Ms.Venetia Lee said the new service enriches the platform’s super-app ecosystem and aims to reduce barriers to cross-border healthcare using digital tools, while fulfilling the company’s social responsibility. AlipayHK has also signed a memorandum of understanding with HKU’s SIEW Lab, led by Prof. Shenjing He, to jointly study cross-border healthcare utilization and medical infrastructure in the Greater Bay Area. Findings from this research will help optimize services and inform related public policy.
In addition to appointment booking, the medical services section offers discounted packages for dental care and health checkups. A limited-time summer promotion provides HK$10 medical vouchers for use on purchases of HK$80 or more.
This expansion marks AlipayHK’s move beyond payments, transport, and bill payments into cross-border healthcare, further enhancing its one-stop platform for local and northbound lifestyle services.
The platform reminds users that medical services are provided by third-party institutions, and AlipayHK does not verify medical content. Users are advised to consult professional medical advice before making selections. Medical voucher offers are limited and subject to terms and conditions.
Leave a comment