Source in Chinese: Liberty Times

More than 11,000 foreigners have come to Taiwan for reproductive medicine in the past three years

Over the past three years, Taiwan's medical strength has not only been demonstrated in the prevention of the epidemic, but also in the proportion of people from Japan and ASEAN nations coming to Taiwan for international medical treatment. More than 10,000 came to Taiwan for 'baby-making' opportunities in the last three years. The medical sector believes that in addition to aesthetic and health check-ups, infertility and cancer treatment are among Taiwan's strengths, and that recovery from post-COVID-19 can be anticipated. 

More than 240,000 international medical visits last year

Taiwan's international medical output hit NT$189.9 billion in 2019. After peaking at NT$189.9 billion in 2019, the impact of the global pandemic in 2020 dropped sharply to $9.5 billion. Last year, it dropped to a new low of $6.1 billion. Last year, it dropped to a new low of $6.17 billion, but the number of people served still reached 24.6 million. 

Comparing the pre-pandemic (2010) with the post-pandemic (2002), the share of the top 10 countries of origin included Japan, which increased from 4.9 percent to 9.9 percent. The share of the top 10 countries of origin increased from 4.9 per cent to 9.3 per cent. The share of the top 10 countries of origin increased from 4.9 percent to 9.3 percent in Japan and from 10.4 percent to 14.3 percent in Indonesia. The Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand and the United States also increased. The proportion of Chinese visitors fell from 34.6 per cent to 13.6 per cent. 

The CEO of the International Medical Service Center at NTUH, Chia-Yu Chu, pointed out that the opening of medical checkups and aesthetics for Chinese visitors in 2012 had peaked at more than 60 percent. For example, between 2020 and 2022, 10,400 foreigners came to Taiwan to receive fertility treatment or consultation.

High-end equipment for cancer treatment expected to boost output

Large hospitals believe that the use of advanced equipment to provide treatment for cancer and other diseases is a new battleground for international medical services, and expect to see a strong performance this year. According to See-Tong Pang, Vice Superintendent of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou, the real target for international medical treatment is "high-value" ones, such as proton therapy, which can cost up to a million dollars a treatment, and will attract foreign patients to Taiwan if the treatment is effective.

The Taipei Veterans General Hospital has also recently launched the country's first heavy ion therapy centre. Heavy ion therapy is more destructive to cancer cells and requires less treatment.

Currently, there are 18 particle therapy centres in operation, approved and under application, including 15 proton centres and three heavy ion centres in Taiwan.

International medical data shows an increase in the number of visits to internal medicine, family medicine and emergency medicine departments. According to Chu's analysis, the number of foreigners coming to Taiwan during the pandemic has decreased, but in recent years, more foreigners have been living in Taiwan, and the demand for medical services has also been reflected in the change of medical specialty. Wang Wei, Vice Superintendent of the Taipei Medical University Hospital, believes that a large proportion of these visits are related to the need for screening and treatment of foreigners in Taiwan related to COVID-19.

However, Chu said that there are many restrictions on the development of international medical services in Taiwan, unlike Thailand and Singapore where medical visas can be obtained through advertisements and even hospitals. If Taiwan could loosen its pricing strategy and international marketing, it would be more competitive.