Tourists from mainland China will from now on be allowed to visit Taiwan for the express purpose of medical tourism, the National Immigration Agency announced Jan. 3.
“In the past, mainland Chinese tourists were not allowed to officially declare that they were coming to Taiwan for medical reasons, and they could only visit hospitals and clinics on the sly,” according to an NIA official.
“But with the Dec. 30 announcement by the Cabinet of the revisions to the Rules Governing Permits for People in Mainland China Entering Taiwan, mainlanders can now legally enter Taiwan for health checkups and cosmetic surgery,” the official continued.
A group of 26 residents from the northeastern city of Shenyang will become the first legitimate group of mainland medical tourists to visit Taiwan when they arrive next month for complete physical checkups, according to the NIA.
The group is composed of presidents of large hospitals and officials from local governments, according to Alex Hung, president of the Shin Kong Medical Club in Taipei, an organization established for medical travel by Shin Kong Wu Ho-su Memorial Hospital and the organization that will perform the checkups.
The visitors will arrive in Taiwan Feb. 13 and stay for seven days, during which they will undergo advanced diagnostic tests such as positron emission tomography and lung tomography, Hung said.
“The equipment and techniques Taiwan uses for medical checkups are very advanced. Checkup fees are about NT$40,000 (US$1,320), which is cheaper than mainland China’s NT$60,000,” he added.
Hung said that in addition to the checkups the members are also scheduled to tour Taiwan during their trip.
Each group member is expected to spend an average of NT80,000 to NT$90,000 in Taiwan, with more than NT$10,000 on the physical exam, and the rest on shopping and other expenses, according to Hung.
