Wellness as a status symbol has only been enhanced by the pandemic, says Eddy Tang, head of EC Healthcare, who’s bullish on the industry’s future as he reflects on a humble start

Eddy Tang had to drop out of medical school, but his doctor contacts helped when he set out to disrupt the beauty industry

His big idea was to use medical technology to raise service quality. His company’s brands, including Dr Reborn and Hair Forest, have 80 clinics in Greater China

5-MIN READ5-MIN

Eddy Tang is the founder of Hong Kong’ largest non-hospital medical service provider, EC Healthcare – but his success is, he says, built on the back of a “family tragedy”. Photo: Edmond So

Published: 7:15am, 22 Jul 2021Updated: 11:47am, 23 Jul 2021

When Eddy Tang dropped out of medical school more than two decades ago, little did he know that his entrepreneurial drive would lead him to establish what would become Hong Kong’s largest non-hospital medical services provider.

EC Healthcare, the company he founded in 2005 with a paltry HK$150,000 in savings, now offers services ranging from medical aesthetics to dental care and hair treatments, operates 80 clinics in Hong Kong, mainland China and Macau, and is listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange.

The 42-year-old and his team are based on several floors of a high-rise in the bustling Kowloon district of Mong Kok. The design and layout of the headquarters are inspired by the dynamic vibe of a Silicon Valley company, as one of Tang’s colleagues explains when we meet Tang for an interview in his airy office on the 50th floor of the building.

Life, however, wasn’t always this easy for Tang, who comes from a humble background and attributes his success to a “family tragedy”.

When Tang was 13, his father had a stroke and needed hospital care, which had a big impact on the family’s financial situation. Tang’s mother became the main breadwinner, and Tang and his two siblings helped her take care of his father. Moving from a middle class neighbourhood to public housing was a major blow for Tang, who set his sights on becoming a doctor to help cure his dad and support his family.

Tang comes from a humble background and attributes his success to a “family tragedy”. Photo: Edmond So

After only two years, however, Tang had to suspend his studies to help his parents deal with some financial issues, which turned out to be a great decision for his career.