Premier Chen Chien-jen on Monday attended the opening ceremony of the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Healthcare forum. In remarks delivered at the event, the premier said Taiwan has a comprehensive health insurance system and world-class medical professionals and teams, while the U.S. possesses world-leading medical education and health care industries. By promoting exchanges between Taiwanese and U.S. medical professionals, both nations can improve medical treatment standards and enhance collaboration over medical issues. Closer interaction will also help to advance domestic medical research and health care, and stimulate the vigorous development of Taiwan's health care industry.
Taiwan has ranked No. 1 globally for four consecutive years in the Health Care Index of the online database Numbeo, the premier said, attesting to how its medical care system can serve as an exemplary model for countries to expand whole person health care to all their citizens, incorporating Taiwan's core integrated system of health care. The premier also praised the North American Taiwanese Medical Association (NATMA) as most active among the overseas Taiwanese associations in the U.S. in contributing support for Taiwan's participation in the World Health Organization and World Health Assembly. The premier noted that NATMA's latest delegation to Taiwan included many members from major U.S. medical centers, and he expressed hope that everyone's joint efforts will foster closer ties between health care industries in Taiwan and the U.S.