(Hong Kong, 18 January 2023) – Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) partner company Health View Bioanalytic Limited (“HVB”), launched the world’s first non-invasive diabetes pre-screening tool “ARIA-diabetes risks”, a retinal imaging solution to help address the issue of millions of undiagnosed diabetes patients in the world.
According to studies by the International Diabetes Federation, in 2021, almost one in two adults with diabetes were unaware of their diabetes status totaling 239.7 million people globally. In Hong Kong at least 600,000 live with diabetes today and more than 110 million in mainland China. This is a local and global health issue with significant public health consequences, as people with diabetes are at higher risk of major life-threatening complications such as heart disease, kidney disease, loss of vision among others.
HVB’s Automatic Retinal Image Analysis (“ARIA”) technology employing artificial intelligence and machine-learning methods to reveal a variety of underlying health conditions. The new HVB “ARIA-diabetes risks” solution delivers a non-invasive diabetes pre-screening tool with results within minutes and an accuracy rate of over 90%. This is achieved all without the need for a blood test, creating a more rapid and accessible means for early diabetes diagnosis.
In partnership with HKSTP incubatee, Robotainer Limited (Robotainer), the two have formed a joint venture called “Oneness Health” to tap into the huge remote healthcare potential of this solution. By combining HVB’s retinal analysis capabilities with Robotainer’s Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioner network, as well as software and hardware development capabilities, a single one-stop service platform has been created under the same name to provide high-risk patients seeking TCM treatment with greater convenience and flexibility, to achieve the goal of “disease prevention”.
The Oneness Health platform will provide online appointments, mobile assessment, diagnosis and personal health management features in the first quarter of 2023. In the near future, it will also support prescription for traditional Chinese medicines that are dispensed via auto-dispensing machines at over 100 convenient collection points in 18 districts of Hong Kong or collected at different NGO centres. Door-to-door courier service is also available for singleton elderly or needy individuals and families.
Mr Albert Wong, CEO, HKSTP, said: “HKTSP is committed to accelerating the innovation journey by creating a complete support system for translational research, product development through to commercialisation. While this ground-breaking solution from HVB and Robotainer is the ultimate example of how great innovation can really happen here in Hong Kong and at Science Park.
The combination of break-through science with world-first technology, plus cutting-edge software and hardware to form an innovative primary healthcare delivery platform is testament to the sheer speed, talent, infrastructure and innovation capability of our I&T ecosystem.”
In line with the HKSAR Government’s Primary Healthcare Blueprint announced in December 2022, the Oneness Health platform will help deliver on the government goal of creating a more community-based primary healthcare system. The platform will significantly improve healthcare convenience, broaden treatments while reducing overall patient costs and the alleviate burden on the city’s hospitals and clinics.
