The Taiwan cabinet has approved a proposal to establish a medical zone as part of its plan to turn Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in Northern Taiwan into an “aerotropolis”, aiming to attract about 45,000 medical tourists annually in a new international medical district. The government will invest US$127.6 million over four years.
The Taiwan cabinet has approved a proposal to establish a medical zone as part of its plan to turn Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in Northern Taiwan into an “aerotropolis”, aiming to attract about 45,000 medical tourists annually in a new international medical district. The government will invest US$127.6 million over four years. The plan, set to be completed in 2020, will involve the expansion of existing airport terminals and the establishment of an aerospace industrial park and special zones for cargo, passengers and legislative services.
To develop the country’s medical tourism, Premier Wu Den-yih has also instructed the Department of Health to formulate plans to establish other medical zones targeting foreign tourists in central and southern Taiwan. His argument is that by offering international medical services, Taiwan can improve its global image and upgrade the country’s medical industry. The premier said similar international medical districts could be established near the international airports in central and southern Taiwan when conditions allow.
Plans for the development of the international medical district include the construction of several clinics geared toward providing high quality services, treatment and care for what is hoped to be increasing numbers of foreigners coming to Taiwan on medical tourism visits. It will also offer fast-track physical checkups and treatment, including various types of minor cosmetic surgery for passengers flying through the airport.
Taiwan’s first international medical district is planned to be developed in Taoyuan to take advantage of the main international gateway, Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, the convenient transport network, a well-founded network for medical care, and booming business and industry with more than 10,000 factories, including some 40 in the biotech sector.
Cyrus C.Y. Chu of Taiwan research institute Academia Sinica is encouraging the government to promote medical tourism, “According to a 2000 survey, Taiwan’s health standard is second in the world. Taiwan ranks only behind Sweden, proving that the country has a strong foundation upon which to expand its health market. The revenue from foreign patients now accounts for less than 1 percent of total revenue at most hospitals in Taiwan. In comparison with Singapore and Thailand, progress is slow in Taiwan, mainly because hospital management does not treat medical tourism as an industry, but as a service. The government could divide the existing medical system into two parts in order to manage the local insurance medical service and the foreign medical industry. Other improvements, such as processing visas more efficiently for foreign patients, could also help the development of the industry. Developing medical tourism could attract foreign patients to Taiwan to accept treatment. Otherwise good doctors and hospitals will move to China, so, developing medical tourism is the better choice for Taiwan.”
©2024 All rights reserved LaingBuisson 
