Taiwan’s first international health center will be located within the Taoyuan Aerotropolis area and could be up and running in 2013 at the earliest, the Department of Health said April 5.
“If the Legislature passes the proposed amendment to the Medical Care Act this session, allowing hospitals to be established by private enterprises, the facility could be open for bidding by year-end and start construction at the start of 2012,” said Shih Chung-liang, director of the DOH’s Bureau of Medical Affairs.
The international health center is set to provide services only to non-resident foreigners, Shih said. “But about 20 percent of its profits will go to the reserve fund of the National Health Insurance to help improve the quality of health care in the nation,” the official added.
According to Shih, the international zone will comprise shopping malls and hotels to attract more medical tourists. “Visa application procedures will also be streamlined for overseas patients,” he said.
Besides the health center in Taoyuan, two other similar facilities are being considered. “Both Kaohsiung City and the offshore Kinmen County have expressed an interest in setting up such medical institutions,” Shih said.
According to DOH statistics, 12,445 foreign patients visited Taiwan for medical treatment in 2010, including obtaining inpatient services, plastic surgeries and physical checkups, generating revenues of over NT$2.82 billion (US$96.2 million).
