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As Smart Healthcare Gains Momentum, NCKU Hospital Hosts “Road to Smart Healthcare Seminar” on December 9th, 2023.
As Taiwan transitions into an aged society, the development of smart healthcare, precision medicine, and remote care has garnered significant attention. Through the “Smart Healthcare Paradigm” series, the National Cheng Kung University Hospital (NCKU Hospital) has shared noteworthy achievements. On December 9th,2023, NCKU Hospital hosted the “Road to Smart Healthcare Seminar” at the Lecture Hall IV in the College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University (NCKU). The seminar aimed to foster connections among international smart hospitals and relevant medical industries, seeking insights for future progress. To facilitate the exchange of intelligent medical experiences among industry, government, and academia, we invited seven scholars and experts from diverse medical specialties to share their experiences and present successful case studies in smart healthcare.
“Embracing modernity while staying true to our founding principles, the enduring essence lies in our original intention,” remarked NCKU Hospital Superintendent Jing-Wei Lee in his opening speech. The hospital bears the responsibility for the public's healthcare, and he emphasized that both the government and private institutions must be committed to promoting the digital revolution in healthcare. Currently, Taiwan's population reached the peak of the working-age population in 2015, gradually declining thereafter. The population peaked at 23.6 million in 2019, and the rapidly aging population has sharply increased in mortality. Despite significant efforts to boost the fertility rate, it remains challenging to keep pace with the societal shift towards an aging population. This underscores the urgent need for the transformation to smart healthcare.
Superintendent Jing-Wei Lee emphasized that in confronting the challenges posed by the population structure during the pandemic, the development of smart healthcare prioritizes six key factors: precision, quality, fairness, efficiency, painlessness, and cost savings. Automation and digitization are, in fact, the future trends in medicine. With its complete public university resources and hospital facilities, NCKU is one of Taiwan’s most comprehensive and invaluable entities. In the post-pandemic era, the industry and talents have demonstrated their resilience in withstanding the tests of time, ensuring that NCKU Hospital will continue to chart a course toward smart healthcare.
NCKU Executive Vice President Hong-Chen Chen stated that as NCKU enters its 93rd year since its establishment in 1931, it stands as a sustainable, interdisciplinary, and international university with over 22,000 students. Reflecting on NCKU's development, Executive Vice President Chen highlighted the pivotal milestones of establishing College of Medicine in 1983 and the hospital in 1988. These strategic decisions have played a crucial role in shaping the success of NCKU Hospital today. Executive Vice President Chen emphasized NCKU's ongoing commitment to safeguarding public health, aligning with government policies, and serving as a healthcare stronghold in southern Taiwan.
NCKU College of Medicine Vice Dean for Administration Kuei-Sen Hsu mentioned that NCKU College of Medicine is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. With solid support from NCKU President Meng-Ru Shen, College of Medicine has been actively advancing research in smart healthcare, precision medicine, healthcare, and cell therapy. These endeavors extend to the medical curricula, ensuring that medical students receive current and comprehensive professional knowledge. The goal is to offer diverse insights through intellectual stimulation during this seminar. NCKU Hospital will persistently implement precision medicine and smart healthcare in patient care.
Director General Andrea T. J. Hsu, of the Department of Academia-Industry Collaboration and Science Park Affairs at the National Science and Technology Council, highlighted the evident and convenient healthcare access in Taiwan. In the post-pandemic period, notable changes have occurred in the medical equipment industry. In pursuit of innovative solutions, the National Science Council has initiated the “Smart Healthcare Industry-Academia Alliance Project,” emphasizing the alignment with patient needs and encouraging collaboration between the industry and hospitals.
Director General Andrea T. J. Hsu expressed that the collaboration between NCKU and Quanta Computer in developing smart healthcare has initiated outstanding fundamental projects. Unlike Taiwan’s the conventional information and communication technology industry, smart healthcare represents a new field. Aiming for international market penetration, enhanced competitiveness, and a doubling of the value of the biomedical industry in the next four years, the guidance and suggestions of government authorities, enterprises, scholars, and specialists are crucial. Today, we hope this seminar will contribute to human health and well-being, creating a cross-disciplinary innovative and global field in smart healthcare.
The “Road to Smart Healthcare Seminar” has invited General Director Chung-Liang Shih from the Health Insurance Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Director Chii-Jeng Lin from the Joint Commission of Taiwan, Superintendent Matthew Huei-Ming Ma from Taiwan University Hospital Yunlin Branch, Engineering Director Jason Ma from Technical Site Lead of Google Taiwan, and Vice President and Chief Technology Officer Ted Chang of Quanta Computer. They have comprehensively analyzed the challenges in the development of smart healthcare and proposed corresponding strategies. This seminar is expected to facilitate vibrant discussions among scholars, medical specialists, and industries, demonstrating Taiwan's outstanding technology, products, talents, and environment on the global stage.
Group Photo from NCKU Hospital's "Road to Smart Healthcare Seminar".
NCKU Hospital Superintendent Jing-Wei Lee believes that developing smart healthcare is imperative in addressing population aging.
NCKU Executive Vice President Hong-Chen Chen emphasized that in alignment with government policies, NCKU will consistently strive to serve as a healthcare stronghold in southern Taiwan.
NCKU College of Medicine Vice Dean for Administration Kuei-Sen Hsu anticipates that NCKU will incorporate precision medicine and smart healthcare into relevant curricula.
Director General Andrea T. J. Hsu of the Department of Academia-Industry Collaboration and Science Park Affairs at the National Science and Technology Council encouraged the collaboration between NCKU and enterprises in the pursuit of innovative solutions.
General Director Chung-Liang Shih from the Health Insurance Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare, delivered a masterful and powerful speech.
NCKU Hospital hosted the “Road to Smart Healthcare Seminar” at the Lecture Hall IV in the College of Medicine, NCKU, on December 9th, 2023.
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