Seeing clearly the advantages of medical tourism in Taiwan

This article was written by Steven Crook and published by the Taiwan Journal on January 20, 2006.

In recent years, the meaning of a "healthy holiday" has broadened to mean much more than getting fresh air, exercise and relaxation. The related trends of globalization and outsourcing are having an impact on the health-care industry, and large numbers of people, realizing that low-cost but competent medical treatment can be had in places like India and Thailand, are arranging comprehensive checkups or elective surgery through specialized travel agents.

Now, as regular Taiwan Journal contributor Steven Crook discovers, the Taiwanese government and the country's health-care sector are teaming up to bring "medical tourists" to the island. The author specifically mentions the Health Tourism Guidance Task Force in Taiwan, which was launched in September 2004 and consists of experts from various government agencies. It is expected that Taiwan is able to attract many health tourists by emphasizing a combination of high medical standards and reasonable costs.