President Tsai pledges to boost international collaboration on medical technology

2017/12/12

President Tsai Ing-wen said Dec. 7 that the government is committed to fostering international collaboration in medical technology so as to strengthen global health care development and spotlight Taiwan’s cutting-edge capabilities in the field.
 
 Taiwan has a proud record of achievement in producing and adopting medical advancements, Tsai said, citing the country’s world-class success rates in artificial reproduction and living-donor liver transplantation as well as its expertise in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
 
 Given the international competitiveness of Taiwan’s agricultural, biomedical and information and communication technology industries, the government is working to boost cross-sector collaboration in building a comprehensive medical technology ecosystem, the president said. This network will bolster health care innovation for the benefit of patients at home and around the world, she added.
 
 Tsai made the remarks in her opening address at the Taiwan Healthcare Expo in Taipei City. Organized by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Cabinet-level Council of Agriculture and Taipei City Government, the four-day event is one of the most comprehensive health industry exhibitions in Asia.
 
 According to Tsai, medical technology is a key component of the five-plus-two innovative industries initiative, an economic revitalization program targeting the five high-growth sectors of biotech and pharmaceuticals, green energy, national defense, smart machinery and Internet of Things, as well as the promotion of two concepts: the circular economy and a new paradigm for agricultural development. Through leveraging the nation’s clinical expertise and industrial capabilities, the government aims to establish Taiwan as a leading force in global medical care development, she said.
 
 A prime example of such efforts is Healthcare Plus, a portal connecting renowned medical teams and cutting-edge biotech companies in Taiwan. Launched by the MOHW last year, the site has helped initiate hundreds of collaborative projects and generate business opportunities for local firms.
 
 Taiwan also uses its expertise to strengthen medical care around the world, Tsai said. Related efforts include dispatching missions to improve medical service delivery in Republic of China (Taiwan) diplomatic allies and partner nations, and implementing collaborative training programs for foreign health care professionals.
 
 Medical cooperation is also a top priority in the government’s New Southbound Policy, the president said, adding it is hoped that through enhanced cooperation and exchanges in disease prevention and clinical experience, Taiwan and its partner countries can help drive related technological development in Asia.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=6&post=126223)