Source: Ruei-Cin Hong, reports from Tainan, June 9, 2014

Mayor William Lai attended the opening ceremony of E-Champ dermatology clinic group headquarters and Asia-Pacific aesthetic medicine training center yesterday. He noted that during his stop in Shanghai to promote aesthetic medical tourism, he was asked by local media why he only promoted aesthetic medicine. He answered that aesthetic medicine is the strength of Tainan that can combine with its monument sightseeing and gourmet food to offer. The cold winter in Shanghai is the right time for people to organize visiting groups to Tainan, escaping the coldness as well as enjoying medical services.


 
 

Mayor William Lai (3rd from left) and distinguished guests from the political and medical sectors attended the opening ceremony of E-Champ dermatology clinic group headquarters, which was founded by Cheng-Kun Wang, Head of Tainan Medical Association (4th from left). (Photo by Ruei-Cin Hong)

The headquarters of E-Champ dermatology clinic group covers a total of 550 Ping (19566 sq. ft.) of land, claimed to be the largest of its kind in Taiwan and a new landmark in Tainan. The group was founded by Cheng-Kun Wang, Head of Tainan Medical Association, and Chairman of Tainan Tourism Alliance. Its opening ceremony was attended by many distinguished guests from the political and medical sectors.
 

Wang revealed that the June 8 launching day was actually chosen by Mayor Lai as he mentioned he would be in Taiwan on that day when being invited. As a result, although arriving home at two o’clock in the morning yesterday after his Mainland visit, he still honored his words to attend the opening ceremony.
 

DPP legislators Ting-Fei Chen, Wei-Cher Huang, KMT legislator Ching-Chuan Su, and legislators from the ruling and opposition parties of Tainan City also attended and offered their congratulations. Wang added ‘extra material’ in his speech, saying that the grand event today had brought together opinion leaders from both ruling and opposition parties, and he hoped to facilitate a ‘reconciliation of the two parties’ to create a better future for Taiwan.
 

Integrating relevant industries to market with City’s support

Director of Tainan City’s Department of Health Sheng-Che Lin pointed out that the aesthetic medical tourism promotion fair had received enthusiastic responses. Travel agents in Shanghai suggested them to propose a package tour, focusing on food the first day, aesthetic medicine the second day, and a clinic return visit the third day. Unlike other counties and cities where medical institutions fight their own battles, the Tainan City Government uses its resources to integrate relevant industries and market them as one, therefore gaining better return in medical tourism.
 

Lin noted that at present the medical tourism strategic marketing project includes six hospitals providing advanced health examination, twelve aesthetic medical clinics, and four dental clinics; further publicities are required to attract more resources to join in. The City will be able to reach the goal that once the tour group arrives in Tainan, ‘within two hours, all tourists will be placed in various hospitals and clinics for cosmetic services without a long wait.