Inbound medical travel to Taiwan allowed, for urgent care only

Taiwan is open for medical tourists seeking urgent care, but with strict rules. Non-Taiwanese residents planning to visit for medical purposes must cooperate with a local hospital and come up with a treatment plan that must be approved by the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) before they can go to Taiwan.

The Central Epidemic Command Centre (CECC) has relaxed entry rules for foreigners traveling to Taiwan for urgent medical care.

This does not apply to health check-ups, cosmetic surgery, or other non-urgent medical services.

The Taiwan Task Force on Medical Travel at MOHW will make the final decision on applications after reviewing the necessity, continuity, and risk of the treatment for applicants, in a bid to ensure non-nationals can receive medical care in Taiwan.

CECC rules for medical tourists include that they must provide:

• Proof of travel health insurance.
• A health report including a negative COVID-19 PCR test result.
• A disease prevention plan.
• A treatment plan from a Taiwan hospital or clinic.
• An affidavit for 14-day mandatory quarantine.

Patients may also have two family members and one healthcare professional or carer accompany them. Those accompanying the patient must also provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test and undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine. They must be tested again at the end of quarantine.

Both the patient and their travelling companions are responsible for the cost of their quarantine at a quarantine hotel, COVID-19 testing, and medical consultation and treatment. Those who test negative for COVID-19 may proceed to the medical institution for their medical treatment.

Those requiring urgent medical care may be admitted to a designated ward or negative pressure isolation ward arranged by the medical institution that they originally planned to visit. They shall receive their planned medical treatment after one negative test result and be given care according to the standards for caring COVID-19 suspected cases during the 14-day quarantine.

The medical institution treating the applicant shall help the applicant implement quarantine and testing measures, including booking a quarantine hotel, making advance preparations for transport, and giving a COVID-19 test before arranging their medical care, arranging medical care and treatment.

The CECC emphasised that Taiwan will maintain its strict border control and has put disease prevention and management measures in place for foreign nationals applying to visit Taiwan for medical treatment, to reduce the risk of infection posed by inbound travellers.

Medical institutions in Taiwan have to apply to the MOHW for an entry permit for international patients to receive medical treatment. The applicant or the medical institution may go to the relevant authority or agency to apply for a special entry permit after obtaining the approval of the MOHW. Borders are open in Taiwan, but not for tourism.