Hong Kong’s reputation as a hub for healthtech innovation continues to grow.
Liverscan, a portable system that can detect early stages of liver disease, is already being used in Hong Kong, Macao and Mainland China.
The diagnostic device was developed by Hong Kong-based Eieling Technology, established in 2018 with a strong research foundation from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
Liverscan offers a user-friendly and cost-effective alternative to traditional screening methods, making it easier for hospitals and clinics to conduct rapid testing for more people.
Early screening of liver disease can help minimise the spread of life-threatening conditions, such as liver cancer and cirrhosis, which are becoming more common worldwide.
Eieling is already making headway in Mainland China, where Liverscan is already being used in hospitals and clinics after securing approval for sale from the National Medical Products Administration last September.
In February, Eieling announced plans to set up an R&D and production base in Nanjing. It also has two other subsidiaries in China, in Shenzhen and Shanghai for R&D and marketing.
Now, the medtech innovator is taking Liverscan to Indonesia after signing an exclusive agreement with a local distributor.
The partnership took shape after the two parties met at last year’s Asia Summit on Global Health (ASGH), a leading health innovation and investment conference jointly organised by the Hong Kong SAR Government and Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC).
The HKTDC is also supporting Eieling’s liver health promotion – Livercare – Hong Kong 10 Million Liver Scans Program, which launched at ASGH last year – while continuing to facilitate meetings and exposure in Mainland China.
To expedite Liverscan’s promotion in Indonesia, Eieling is localising Liverscan based on consumer needs and market characteristics to ensure the product is better suited to the market.
The global incidence of liver disease continues to rise. As public awareness of liver health increases, the demand for testing is also growing rapidly.
Devices like Liverscan are versatile and adaptable, meeting diverse testing needs, notes Eieling’s VP Alyssa Lin.
Global ambition
Eieling is setting its sights on other international markets too. The United States is a major priority due to its market size and advanced medical infrastructure. Europe is on the radar, too.
To further expand its customer base, Eieling is also working on a high-end liver scanner for home use.
At the same time, the company is developing new capabilities, such as large-scale disease prediction risk models and image post-processing algorithms, to provide more personalised solutions for liver health management.
Rising public awareness, improving healthcare standards and technological advances are all creating growth opportunities for Eieling.
The Hong Kong SAR Government is also continuously increasing its support for the healthcare industry, providing more policy support and resource guarantees.
The city also offers an advanced R&D environment, extensive industry resources and a large international network.
Eieling must still overcome challenges to succeed, however. This includes maintaining the pace of innovation to meet rising market demands for efficiency and accuracy, while keeping costs under control.
The liver health market promises significant potential for growth. However, achieving breakthroughs is far from easy, Ms Lin observes.
“We aim to enhance awareness and trust in liver health testing through effective marketing and public education efforts. We are committed to becoming a technological leader in the global liver health sector.”
