Post-pandemic, international medical tourism is seen as a new growth opportunity for Taiwan's medical institutions. Since 2022, China Medical University Hospital (CMUH) has successfully implemented the Ministry of Health and Welfare's New Southbound Policy, expanding specialized medical care including cancer cell therapy to Malaysia, Brunei, and Singapore, significantly attracting international medical traffic. Superintendent Der-Yang Cho of CMUH mentioned that in 2023, compared to the previous year (including health checkups), patient numbers from Malaysia increased by 256 times, and from Brunei by 47 times. Besides benefiting the hospital, attracting numerous international patients also generates significant benefits for medical tourism in Taichung City, and facilitates international expansion for Taiwanese medical manufacturers.

In the third year of the Ministry of Health and Welfare's New Southbound medical cooperation and industrial development plan, China Medical University Hospital, with the witness of Wu, Ling-Ying, Assistant Director General of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan (right 2), and Dr. Chih-Kun Huang, Superintendent of the International Center (right 3), signed an MOU with Prof. Dr. Abdul Aziz Baba, Vice–Chancellor of the International Medical University (IMU), Malaysia (left 3), in Kuala Lumpur. This collaboration aims to promote exchanges and cooperation in medical research, talent training, and the medical industry.

Before the pandemic, mainland China had the highest proportion of international medical tourists. However, due to various unfavorable factors affecting cross-strait relations, this has been surpassed by New Southbound countries. Thanks to the promotion of the New Southbound Policy, CMUH has extended its specialized medical care to Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur, Sarawak, Sabah) and Brunei, resulting in a noticeable increase in health checkups and disease treatments. Treatments including brain cancer therapy, minimally invasive cardiac procedures for various cardiovascular diseases (atrial fibrillation, arrhythmia, aortic valve replacement, peripheral vascular occlusion, etc.), non-invasive treatment for severe tremors using " MRgFUS (Magnetic Resonance-guided Focused Ultrasound)," and minimally invasive surgery for skull base tumors have helped many critically ill patients in Malaysia, enhancing CMUH's reputation in the country.

China Medical University Hospital drives the Ministry of Health and Welfare's New Southbound medical cooperation and industrial development by partnering with Wistron (Keeogo) and imedtac to participate in the “2024 Next Generation of Care: Merging Healthcare & Technology Conference” held in Kuala Lumpur. The exhibition attracted YBhg. Datuk Dr. Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan, Director-General of the Ministry of Health(MOH), Malaysia (left 3), and Wu, Ling-Ying, Assistant Director General of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan (left 1), to visit the booth and observe the demonstration of Keeogo's lower limb exoskeleton robot (right 1)

China Medical University Hospital, in collaboration with Wistron (Keeogo) (in blue on the left) and imedtac (right 2), participated in the “2024 Next Generation of Care: Merging Healthcare & Technology Conference” and exhibition held in Kuala Lumpur as part of the efforts to drive the Ministry of Health and Welfare's New Southbound medical cooperation and industrial development. Wu, Ling-Ying, Assistant Director General of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan (middle), made a special visit to the exhibition to show support."

Signing MOU with leading Malaysian International Medical University, launching the first Asia Physician Minimally Invasive Surgery Training

Assistant Director General Wu, Ling-Ying of the Ministry of Health and Welfare also stated that the benefits of New Southbound medical cooperation and industrial development, as part of the medium-to-long-term plan in its third year, are clearly evident, with promising prospects ahead. Under the guidance of Superintendent Der-Yang Cho, CMUH has already led a team to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, on April 29 this year, for the first surgery demonstration of the "Asia Physician Minimally Invasive Surgery Training Platform" in collaboration with the AFSM (Academy For Silent Mentor). Following this, an MOU was signed with the top Malaysian IMU (International Medical University), (the first and most mature private medical and health science university in Malaysia), initiating training for medical personnel and facilitating medical exchanges. This trip also includes an important task of connecting Taiwanese medical and health industries with Malaysia. On May 2, CMUH will collaborate with imedtac, provider of Smart Hospital solutions, and Wistron (Keeogo), developer of lower limb exoskeleton robot, to participate in the “IMU-2024 Next Generation of Care: Merging Healthcare & Technology Conference” and Exhibition, jointly promoting CMUH's international medical services and Taiwan's outstanding medical products.

Taichung City is already Taiwan's second-largest city and a benchmark for livable cities. It boasts internationally renowned Fen Chia Night Market, as well as internationally acclaimed venues like the National Taichung Theater, Luce Memorial Chapel, and Asia University Museum of Modern Art, showcasing the works of Pritzker Prize-winning architects. It also has the Gu Guan Hot Springs, and is adjacent to the Sun Moon Lake international tourist destination, showing immense potential for international medical tourism development. CMUH is leveraging its resources through the promotion of the New Southbound Policy, not only allowing international visitors to experience Taiwan's excellent medical technology and services firsthand but also expected to contribute to a new wave of economic value in Taichung City's medical tourism post-pandemic.