Taiwan’s “Healthy Taiwan” initiative sets out a vision for healthcare transformation, centered on prevention, earlier diagnosis, digitalization, and more sustainable long-term care. For Johnson & Johnson Taiwan, the significance of that vision lies in expanding access to innovation and in redesigning how patients move through care itself.
“When I came here and listened to discussions around Healthy Taiwan, what struck me was that it’s very ambitious, but it’s pulling the right levers for healthcare transformation,” says Managing Director of Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine Taiwan, Jayashri Kulkarni.
Taiwan’s medical ecosystem, she says, is especially well positioned to support that transition. Beyond strong hospital infrastructure and universal coverage, Taiwan has demonstrated a clear willingness to adopt digital tools, integrate multidisciplinary care, and bring a wider range of stakeholders into clinical and policy discussions, including patient advocacy groups.
Within that environment, J&J Innovative Medicine’s work in Taiwan spans oncology, neuroscience, immunology, and specialty care, with particular focus on areas where treatment gaps remain significant. In oncology — to help improve remission rates and support longer-term independence — the company points to growing emphasis on earlier intervention, precision-guided therapies, and longer-term disease control across conditions, including lung cancer, bladder cancer, prostate cancer, and multiple myeloma.
Taiwan’s healthcare system is also adopting more innovative approaches to care delivery as newer therapies enable more forms of treatment to move closer to home. “With an aging society, we’re going to see many more challenges around capacity utilization, and the need for staff and expertise for both acute and chronic episodes,” Kulkarni says. “Having innovation that allows you to treat patients with the same outcomes outside traditional hospital settings is a big advantage. It frees up resources where they’re needed most.”
That shift is becoming more important as Taiwan expands cancer screen-ing efforts under Healthy Taiwan. Earlier detection can significantly improve outcomes, but it also creates new demands around diagnosis, referral, and treatment coordination.
One example is Johnson & Johnson MedTech’s robotic-assisted bronchoscopy system designed to support precision diagnosis for lung cancer. Unlike conventional percutaneous biopsy approaches, which may require physicians to pass a needle through healthy lung tissue, the system navigates through the bronchus to reach suspicious lesions in a less invasive way.
The system was introduced alongside Taiwan’s expanding low-dose CT screening initiatives, which strengthens clinical evaluation pathway and supports more precise and evidence-based treatment decisions.
“This system plays a critical role within that process,” says Country Lead of MedTech Taiwan and General Manager of Surgery, Tracy Chen.
The implications extend beyond the procedure itself. More accurate diagnosis can help reduce potentially avoidable surgeries, shorten periods of patient uncertainty, selection of the most appropriate approach, and ultimately improve patient outcomes. Johnson & Johnson also sees opportunities to further streamline the patient journey by integrating diagnostics, biopsy, and treatment planning into more coordinated care pathways.
“A lot depends on the hospital support system and how quickly biopsy results can be processed,” Chen says. “Ultimately, we want to create a more streamlined, one-stop solution that enables the most appropriate use of medical approaches and resources to improves the patient experience and clinical outcomes.”
As technologies become more software- and AI-driven, however, hospitals and regulators also face new regulatory and operational challenges. While Taiwan has accelerated approval timelines for some advanced medical technologies, software upgrades for AI-enabled platforms can still require lengthy review processes even after core systems receive approval.
“The problem is that software evolves extremely quickly,” Chen says. “By the time one version receives approval, newer versions may already be available internationally.”
Hence accelerating patient access is always a priority for J&J Taiwan. “The question we ask ourselves is simple: are patients benefiting earlier, more equitably, and in a way the system can sustain?” Kulkarni shares.
Johnson & Johnson works across the full pathway — clinical development, evidence, talent, and system readiness. The MOU with Chang Gung Medical Foundation is the company’s latest milestone in bringing the plan to life. Kulkarni explains, “We’re expanding collaboration in oncology and immunology to strengthen Taiwan’s clinical research capability, so more patients can participate earlier in global development and Taiwan can be a trusted site for evidence generation.”
For talent, J&J Innovative Medicine partners with Taipei Medical University, co-developing industry-linked programs, internships, and international exposure, to help students build practical experience and a clearer view of what it takes to bring innovation into routine care.
“Taken together, these all reflect our long-term commitment to Healthy Taiwan — innovation, partnership, talent, and sustainability,” Kulkarni says. “We want global science and Taiwan’s healthcare strengths to reinforce each other, so more patients benefit earlier and the system stays resilient over time.”
