Taiwan Medical Services Charm Middle East, First Tourist Group Arrives for Health Check

Source: Central News Agency, May 13, 2014 16:00

The Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) held a contract-signing press conference today, showcasing the first Middle East medical service referral platform of our country. The Zabeel Group of Dubai signed a Letter of Intent with five Taiwanese medical institutions, including Cathay, Cheng-Hsin, Chang-Gung, Taichung Veterans, and Min-Sheng hospitals, facilitating Middle East nationals to visit Taiwan for medical services in the future. Three Arab citizens affirmed Taiwan’s high medical standards in this event by visiting and using medical services in Taiwan.

In mid-February this year (2014), Minister Chiu of Health and Welfare led a delegation of nearly 40 medical institution representatives to visit the United Arab Emirates, promoting our country’s quality health services and establishing our first Middle East medical referral platform in Dubai, through the liaison of the Taiwan Trade Center in Dubai. In less than three months, the first Middle East medical tourism group is now taking a direct flight to Taiwan for health check services.

TAITRA Executive Vice President Walter Yeh emphasized the significance of this group. First of all, it is the first group referred by our Middle East medical referral platform and indicative of things to come. Secondly, Middle East citizens usually choose to receive treatments in Europe, USA, South Korea, and Thailand; the selection of Taiwan this time indicates their ratification of our high-quality medical technologies. He believed that through word of mouth, more of the Middle East public would come to Taiwan to use our medical services in the future.

In recent years, Dubai is rising and has created many foremost landmarks of the world, such as the world's tallest tower Burj Khalifa, the world's seven-star hotel Burj Al Arab, and the world's largest artificial island. Under the government’s excellent strategies of packaging and marketing, Dubai is promoted like a brand name and has successfully created many trending topics. However, hidden problems exist in its people's health. Per capita income of the United Arab Emirates has passed US$60,000, ranking the sixth in the world. However, the high-salt, high-fat, and high-sugar diet led to a high proportion of the country’s population suffering from chronic diseases such as obesity and cardiovascular diseases. According to data provided by Tawfik Khoja, Director General of the Executive Board of the Health Ministers’ Council for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States, and displayed on the ‘Dubai International Family Medicine Conference and Exhibition 2014’, among the Middle East Gulf countries, patients aged over 30 with diabetes account for about 12% to 24% of the total population; those with heart related diseases, about 20% to 45%.

Due to a shortage of doctors and nurses, the population with chronic diseases has grown substantially; the lack of medical resources and high costs further contribute to the multiplication of medical needs in the Middle East. In addition, the Emirates Airline has launched a direct flight route between Dubai and Taipei, increasing the convenience of transportation. Our quality and professional medical services can provide various choices to the Middle East public, attracting them to Taiwan for medical services. The opportunity has come for Taiwan to diversify her medical sources of income.

Head of the Dubai Zabeel Group Mr. Fuad said that apart from sharing his Taiwan experience with more friends, in the future he would not rule out the possibility of investing on international health industry in our free economic pilot zones, and setting up the Group’s stronghold in Taiwan.

Source: Taiwan External Trade Development Council