Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing’s charity will expand support for liver cancer patients by subsidising surgery fees for 200 patients over the next three years, enabling access to cutting-edge treatment at a cost of HK$50,000 (US$6,380).
Announcing the initiative on Wednesday, the Li Ka Shing Foundation said eligible patients would be selected by three partnering private hospitals to undergo histotripsy surgery, which typically costs about HK$260,000 for Hong Kong identity card holders.
Histotripsy is a non-invasive treatment that uses high-intensity ultrasound waves to precisely disrupt and liquefy targeted tumour cells without harming surrounding healthy tissue. Each session lasts about 15 to 25 minutes and is performed under general anaesthesia.
Li donated histotripsy devices, each valued at US$3 million, to the city’s two medical schools in 2024. The machines are now in use at private hospitals affiliated with the universities, including Gleneagles Hospital, Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital, and the CUHK Medical Centre.
However, the foundation said Li had learned that some patients could not afford the treatment due to financial constraints.
“Mr Li received letters from patients expressing deep regret that they would be unable to access this non-invasive histotripsy surgery due to lack of financial means and insurance coverage,” the foundation said, as it published a rare photograph of the 97-year-old billionaire, long absent from public view, riding an electric mobility scooter.