Medgate Today visited Taiwan Healthcare Expo 2018: Highlights of Taiwan’s Vibrant Healthcare Ecosystem.

In order to assist medical service providers and personnel from Southeast Asia become more aware of Taiwan’s high-quality specialty medical services, the “Medical Media Delegation for Taiwan Healthcare 2018,” sponsored by the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Taiwan (MOHW) and organized by Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA),  held from 27^th to 30^th November. Well-known professional medical media from 7 countries, including Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, India and Singapore.

Taiwan Healthcare has come a long way post 1990s healthcare reforms initiated by Ministry of Health and Welfare. National Health Insurance (NHI)  instituted in 1995 covers of 99% population as per 2004 data.  The health statistics of year 2002  details  1.6 physicians and 5.9 hospital beds per 1000 population, and  5.8% of GDP spend on healthcare . As per 2018 data, life expectancy in Taiwan is 80 years and infant mortality is 4 deaths out of 1000 live births. The healthcare approach focused more on clinical aspect than administrative or economy aspect, has led to inclusive growth of whole healthcare ecosystem.

These were the statistics Mr. Afzal Kamal, Editor in Chief, Medgate Today went along with to Taiwan Healthcare Expo 2018 , on invitation extended by Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare and organized & facilitated by Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA). The key objective of the event was to show case Taiwan’s Leading Global Medical Technologies and Specialty Training Courses to the world.

Mr.Afzal Kamal had intensive interaction with Ms.Yueh-Ping Liu , from Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW), and Mr. Walter Yeh, CEO, Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA). It was huge learning of world’s one of the best healthcare ecosystem which is just 2 decades old. Mr.Kamal says Healthcare Ecosystem is better Concept than Healthcare System as ecosystem conveys self-sustainability of whole industry. It’s about shared goals, growth, and future of industry stakeholders as successfully demonstrated by Taiwan’s healthcare model. There is a lot the world can learn from Taiwan healthcare encompassing best technologies, best clinical practices, and excellent interplay of all stakeholders of healthcare ecosystems.

 He also had a detailed discussion with Prof. (Dr.)Hung-Chi Chen and Prof.(Dr.)Fu-Chan Wei   Who are among the best surgeons in reconstructive micros surgery in the world. Medgate Today Editor was astonished to note advancement and perfection achieved by Taiwanese medical fraternity in the field of reconstructive micros surgery. Prof. (Dr.)Hung-Chi Chen further  elaborated the holistic objective  driving “ Train the trainers (Specialty Training Courses)  programme which is giving back to the world. He also met and interacted with many interns and trainees from Italy, Vietnam, India and other countries.  Mr.Kamal was quite impressed with this global & noble thought of healthcare which he strongly practices himself through his Integrated Global Healthcare Mission (IGHM) .

Later visiting Taiwan International Medical Pavilion and Medical Centers, Medgate Editor-in-Chief was enthralled by medical technologies’ brilliance in making hospitals and allied systems smarter, whether it’s first Robotic Neuro Surgery equipment, or Concept of Smart Hospitals.

In Smart Hospital Concept, patient carries health IC Smart card having data of patients as well consultants, healthcare providers, diagnosis, treatment & procedures.

Once patient meets the consultant and gives his/her health IC Smart card, which consultant feeds into a reader and go through  patient’s medical history and prescriptions on screen. This aggregate data brings in more patient convenience, as well as efficiency and transparency in healthcare delivery.

Mr.Afzal Kamal sums up his Taiwan visit as an important step towards greater Indo-Taiwan collaboration in healthcare in coming months.