The CEPD hopes to attract more foreigners to come to Taiwan for medical treatment with the help of these multinational insurance companies, including American Life Insurance Co. and Prudential Life Insurance Co., which function as information channels between Taiwan’s medical system and foreign patients.

The spokesman said that compared to other Asian countries like Thailand and Singapore, Taiwan began late in globalizing its medical services, but the CEPD believes that Taiwan will be able to catch up by providing better integrated medical services at lower prices.

For example, the spokesman said, a cardiac catheterization costs NT$320,000 in Taiwan, compared with NT$390,000 in Thailand, NT$450,000 in Malaysia, NT$480,000 in Singapore, NT$1.5 million in England, and NT$1.8 million in the United States.

A knee replacement operation costs only NT$180,000 in Taiwan, compared with NT$270,000 in Malaysia, NT$300,000 in Singapore and Thailand, NT$420,000 in the United States, and NT$750,000 in England, he continued.

The spokesman said that with its many air connections to regions around the world, Taiwan has a great opportunity in the international healthcare market. Furthermore, he continued, Taiwan has strict requirements regarding evaluation of the healthcare delivery system, and visitors can enjoy a long stay in the country for a relatively low cost.

The CEPD is especially targeting U.S. and British patients, the spokesman said, adding that statistics show that nearly 47 million Americans live without any medical insurance and 30 million Americans do not have sufficient health care insurance and that the British medical system makes patients wait for long periods of time to receive treatment.

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