In the fall of 2007, Taiwan Business TOPICS invited 14 experts to offer their thoughts on “what Taiwan should aim to be like” in their areas of expertise by the year 2020, and how to achieve those goals. Their views were published in the November 2007 edition of TOPICS under the heading “Vision 2020.” With 2020 now upon us, TOPICS sought to re-engage with the…
As 2019 draws to a close without the achievement of several hoped-for advances in regulatory procedures for medical devices, multinational companies in the sector are looking to the new year for some significant breakthroughs. Topping the wish list is passage of the draft Medical Devices Act, which would create dedicated legislation to govern the industry…
The Taiwan Precision Medicine Initiative offers the opportunity to dramatically improve the nation’s medical landscape and advance the lucrative biomedical sector with an ambitious DNA mapping project. “The best doctor cures the illness that is still obscure, the good doctor cures the illness that is about to break out, and the ordinary doctor treats the…
The current definition limits the health benefits that can be claimed. As consumers look for ways to maintain or improve their health, the dietary supplements market in most parts of the world has been growing rapidly in recent years. Taiwan remains a major exception because of the stringent regulations governing this sector. The size of…
Flurry of raids are reminder of unresolved status. In recent weeks, local health department inspectors looking for violations conducted searches of the offices of six doctors of chiropractic in three Taiwan cities. Although it is not yet clear whether any of the cases will result in prosecutions, the incidents are a reminder of the precarious…
Several of the candidates for the Democratic nomination for U.S. president are advocating a government-run plan to provide health-insurance coverage to all Americans, sometimes referred to “Medicare for All.” As a single-payer healthcare system, this type of plan is similar to Taiwan’s National Health Insurance (NHI). Could the Taiwan experience serve as a practical reference…
It’s high on every expat’s nightmare list – needing emergency medical care in a country where you’re an outsider and don’t speak the language beyond telling a cab driver where to turn. I was home alone, my wife and children off visiting family in the UK, when I was struck with a sudden, searing pain…
Yuanlin Christian Hospital, a pioneering smart hospital, located in heavily rural Changhua County focuses on emergency and critical care in a part of Taiwan where emergency resources are scarce. The hospital opened in 2015, and with nearly 500 beds, 70 attending doctors, and more than 500 nurses, it can treat major traumas. It also offers emergency and inpatient treatment for children and various gynecological services.
For the time being, Taiwan’s highly popular universal healthcare program is still solvent. But due to rising costs and a rapidly aging population, the system may run out of funds within two years unless increased premiums and other reforms are put in place. Taiwan’s National Health Insurance (NHI) system is currently living beyond its means….
If you’ve taken any medicine lately in the Asia-Pacific region, it’s highly likely that Zuellig Pharma delivered it to your healthcare provider or pharmacy. Distributing pharmaceuticals is a complex business involving cold-chain management and other massive logistical challenges that most of us take for granted. The company’s mission is to make healthcare more accessible to…
