-Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital-

As Taiwan enters a super-aged society, challenges such as chronic disease management, health equity, workforce shortages, and healthcare resilience continue to intensify. In response, “Healthy Taiwan” has emerged as a key national policy initiative. On June 6, Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital (KMUH) hosted the “69th Anniversary Celebration Series – Healthy Taiwan Forum”, establishing a major health policy exchange platform in southern Taiwan centered on advancing the Healthy Taiwan initiative.

The forum was honored by the presence of Lai Ching-te, who traveled to Kaohsiung to show his support. He was joined by representatives from the central government's health policy team, healthcare leaders, academic experts, industry representatives, and regional healthcare partners to discuss the implementation of the Healthy Taiwan initiative. Together, they engaged in in-depth discussions on health governance, smart healthcare, National Health Insurance sustainability, health equity, healthcare resilience, and integrated community care, while reviewing the progress of the Healthy Taiwan initiative and exploring future directions for its implementation.

Combining policy dialogue, clinical practice, and regional collaboration, the forum highlighted the proactive role of academic medical centers in translating national healthcare policies into meaningful action while advancing smart healthcare and community-based services throughout southern Taiwan.

President Lai noted in his remarks that he is Taiwan’s first president with a medical background and has long-standing ties with KMUH. He also extended his congratulations on KMUH’s 69th anniversary. He emphasized that Healthy Taiwan represents a critical national strategy requiring cross- disciplinary and cross-regional collaboration.

On disease prevention, President Lai highlighted the government’s expansion of publicly funded cancer screening programs, which now providing free screening for six major cancers, including breast, cervical, colorectal, oral, lung, and gastric cancers. He also discussed the government’s “888 Program” targeting hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes, with the goal of increasing healthy life expectancy of the Taiwanese population by three years.

The forum featured an impressive lineup of speakers, including Professor Chih-Hung Chen, Deputy Convener of the Presidential Office Healthy Taiwan Promotion Committee; Minister of Health and Welfare Chung-Liang Shih; Director-General Liang-Yu Chen of the National Health Insurance Administration; Director-General Ching-Fen Shen of the Health Promotion Administration; Presidential Advisor Professor Chun-Sheng Lai; President Hsiang-Kuo Chen of the Taiwan Medical Association; as well as representatives from the Kaohsiung City Government, healthcare institutions, and academia.

Together, participants examined both the challenges and opportunities of the Healthy Taiwan initiative from multiple perspectives, including health governance, smart healthcare, healthcare sustainability, health equity, healthcare resilience, and integrated community care. Spanning policy, technology, clinical practice, and community-based healthcare, the forum highlighted the strength, collaboration, and commitment of southern Taiwan's healthcare system in advancing the Healthy Taiwan agenda.

The forum opened with a keynote address by Professor Chih-Hung Chen titled “Healthy Taiwan: Turning Vision into Action.” He outlined the initiative’s five strategic pillars: cancer prevention and control, the 888 chronic disease prevention program, mental health resilience, technology-enabled healthcare resilience, and the sustainable National Health Insurance development. He emphasized that success will require collaboration between central and local governments, healthcare institutions, communities, public-private partners, and active participation by the public. Together, these efforts are essential to translating national health policy into tangible improvements in the health and well-being of all citizens.

Minister Chung-Liang Shih delivered a keynote speech entitled “Building a Resilient and Sustainable Healthy Taiwan.” He shared progress and future plans for the Healthy Taiwan initiative, emphasizing the government is actively promoting the integration of smart technologies, the cultivation of healthcare professionals, the optimization of healthcare environments, and the development of a resilient healthcare system. Through cross-ministerial coordination and digital transformation, Taiwan aims to build a more sustainable healthcare system that comprehensively enhances national healthcare resilience.

Mr. Chien-Chih Chen, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Kaohsiung Medical University, stated that the KMU system has remained committed to serving society and safeguarding public health since its founding. Facing the challenges of healthcare transformation and population aging, KMU will continue integrating education, research, healthcare, and technology to serve as a key partner in advancing Healthy Taiwan.

“Where there is a need, KMU will be there,” Chairman Chen remarked. He emphasized that the university and healthcare system will continue leveraging smart technologies, inter-hospital collaboration, and community resources to promote health equity and build a healthier, more sustainable, and more resilient Healthy Taiwan.

KMU President Ming-Lung Yu highlighted that achieving the goals of Healthy Taiwan requires not only healthcare innovation but also talent cultivation, scientific research, and interdisciplinary collaboration. In recent years, KMU has integrated expertise in artificial intelligence, biomedicine, public health, and sports medicine while leveraging its affiliated hospitals as real-world implementation sites. This integrated approach demonstrates the strength of the “Integrated university-hospital system, shared system-wide prosperity” model and supports the development of smart healthcare and holistic patient care.

Looking ahead, KMU will continue strengthening collaboration among education, research, and clinical practice to cultivate future healthcare professionals and drive sustainable innovation.

Superintendent Jaw-Yuan Wang stated that KMUH has taken the Healthy Taiwan initiative as a key strategic framework, from aspects including digital transformation, clinical innovation, talent cultivation, workforce development, and social responsibility, and has translated national policies into concrete actions that can be implemented in clinical settings.

KMUH has developed and deployed 60 AI models across clinical settings. The hospital established southern Taiwan’s only Responsible AI Center and launched the nation’s first AI Lifecycle Governance Platform. Its independently developed “Smart Endoscopy × AI Agent” solution was showcased on the global stage at NVIDIA GTC 2026, while the introduction of southern Taiwan’s first AI-powered chromosome scanning system has reduced interpretation time by 38%.

In medical education, KMUH serves as southern Taiwan’s first ACGME Hub and pioneered Taiwan’s first AI Attending Physician (AI VS) program, accelerating the adoption of smart healthcare and interdisciplinary talent training, effectively reducing the workload of frontline clinical workloads.

In critical and emergency care, KMUH established the STRONG Regional Major Trauma Network, connecting healthcare providers, emergency medical services, and health authorities across Kaohsiung, Pingtung, and Penghu. This initiative has transformed trauma care from isolated treatment centers into a coordinated regional system and was recognized with the 2026 Trauma Innovation Award, the highest honor in global trauma innovation.

KMUH has also expanded home-based acute care services, mobile smart healthcare units for rural communities, and teleconsultation systems, extending academic medical center expertise beyond hospital walls and into homes, communities, and underserved areas, advancing health equity and the vision of a “hospital without walls.”

Superintendent Jaw-Yuan Wang further emphasized that healthcare innovation must be supported by a resilient workplace culture and strong social responsibility. KMUH invests over NT$280 million annually in employee welfare programs, including enhanced childcare subsidies for children aged 0–6, educational allowances support for employees’ children, and continued healthcare benefits for retired staff and their parents , receiving recognition from the Taiwan Healthcare Sustainability Award as the “Happiness Award for Nursing Staff.”

In social responsibility initiatives, KMUH established Taiwan’s only hair toxicology testing center for children and adolescents in partnership with social welfare agencies, and has built a green channel to accelerate testing processes. The hospital has also advanced green healthcare initiatives, increasing medical waste recycling rates to 24.7% and partnering with iPASS to develop a green transportation platform that has helped employees reduce carbon emissions by 69%, earning certification from the British Standards Institution (BSI).

In the future, KMUH will continue leveraging digital innovation and human-centered care as dual pillars for building a smarter, more resilient healthcare system and contributing to the realization of Healthy Taiwan.

The forum not only showcased KMUH’s forward-looking achievements under the Healthy Taiwan initiative but also served as an important platform connecting national policy with local implementation. From national health strategies to frontline clinical implementation, and from AI-driven smart healthcare to community-based health services, the forum featured rich content and in-depth discussions across diverse topics, fully showcasing the commitment and capacity of Taiwan’s medical community in advancing healthcare reform and medical innovation.

In the future, KMUH will continue to fulfill its role as a leading medical center in southern Taiwan, working closely with government agencies, healthcare partners, and local communities to advance the vision of Healthy Taiwan and to build a future healthcare system centered on the well-being of every citizen.

▲KMUH’s “Healthy Taiwan Forum” was successfully held on June 6, bringing together leaders from government, healthcare, academia, and industry to showcase achievements and momentum in advancing the Healthy Taiwan initiative.

▲President Lai Ching-te attended the KMUH “Healthy Taiwan Forum,” joining discussions on health governance, smart healthcare, National Health Insurance sustainability, health equity, healthcare resilience, and integrated community care.

▲Chairman Chien-Chih Chen of KMU stated that in response to the transformation of healthcare and the challenges of a super-aged society, KMU will continue integrating education, research, clinical care, and technology to leverage the influence of a university-based medical system to serve as a key partner in advancing the Healthy Taiwan initiative.

▲KMU President Ming-Lung Yu highlighted the university’s integration of expertise in artificial intelligence, biomedicine, public health, and sports medicine, demonstrating the strengths of the “Integrated university-hospital system, shared system-wide prosperity” model.

▲Superintendent Jaw-Yuan Wang noted that KMUH has taken the Healthy Taiwan initiative as a key strategic framework, translating national healthcare policies into practical and impactful actions in clinical settings.

▲Professor Chih-Hung Chen, Deputy Convener of the Healthy Taiwan Promotion Committee, delivered a keynote speech entitled “Healthy Taiwan: Turning Vision into Action,” highlighting the five core pillars underpinning the Healthy Taiwan initiative.

▲The forum not only showcased KMUH’s forward-looking achievements in implementing the Healthy Taiwan initiative but also served as an important platform for dialogue and collaboration between national policymakers and local healthcare practitioners.