Taiwan |
Taiwan
has received a boost as a medical tourism hub when China recently began
issuing medical visas for travellers heading to the island to avail of its
healthcare facilities and services.
Typically, Taiwanese hospitals rely on travel consultants
for visa processing and travel arrangements, as well as any add-on leisure
activities, according to Sandy Chu, spokesperson for Lionmedi, Taiwan’s
largest supplier of medical tourism-related services.
The medical visas are good for stays of up to 15 days,
include the arrival day, a specified number of days for visits to the hospital
and an additional three days for sightseeing.
Taiwan |
“We are getting enquiries, both directly here in Taiwan and through our China offices,” said Chu,
adding that most enquiries received were for non-invasive, low-risk procedures.
The new wave of Chinese coming to Taiwan
for medical services are FITs – and could theoretically organise their own
visits – but Chu believes most will continue to rely on Taiwan travel
companies for assistance.
“First of all, medical tourism in Taiwan is new,” she explained, so
few prospective travellers would know how to organise such a trip. “And
secondly, the hospitals prefer to work with travel consultants rather than on
their own.”
Taiwan |
Medical tourism has been on the Taiwan government's radar as early
as 2008, according to Jane Chen, section chief, medical affairs, Department of
Health (DOH), The Executive Yuan. Last year, 13,914 overseas visitors were
served at Taiwanese medical facilities, compared to 5,157 in 2008, the first
year the DOH began keeping records.
Unlike Singapore
or Thailand, both of which
have created single agencies for the management of medical tourism, Taiwan divides
responsibilities among several bodies, with the DOH managing medical affairs,
and promotion handled primarily by the Taiwan Tourism Bureau and Government
Information Office.
An example of a collaborative promotion is a mobile
application, available on iTunes since last month, providing a searchable
directory of Taiwan
healthcare providers serving medical tourists. The app is being promoted by the
Taiwan External Trade Development Council, which claims 2,000 downloads to
date.
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