Taiwan's health care system is great, but unfortunately has varying levels of quality

My personal experience of medical services in Taiwan has been excellent. Truly world class and much better than my home country, the United Kingdom. My first significant experience was about 5 years ago when I seriously cut my left index finger during a visit to Heng Chuen. The local emergency room doctor (ex-army) did a wonderful job of cleaning, re-connecting the tendon and stitching the wound. For further treatment, I went to Kaohsiung University Hospital in the San Min district of Kaohsiung City and received excellent quality care. Almost 3 years ago, I developed Rheumatoid Arthritis. Once again, first-class care, which is still continuing, from the same hospital. Two years ago, I needed a medical examination and report to support my application for a Permanent Resident Visa.

The same hospital completed all parts of the examination within one hour. They then sent the report to my home. It was detailed, clear and correct. Last year, I felt uncomfortable one Saturday evening. A neighbor kindly drove my wife and me to the same hospital's emergency room. Within one hour, I had a blood test, X-Ray, MRI scan, diagnosis and a bed in a private room. My gall bladder was removed on the following Monday and I was home two days later. I cannot praise this hospital enough. Every time I visit, the staff — all of them — are helpful, polite, efficient, caring and very effective.

However, the experience of my wife, one of her nieces and one of her friends has not been so good. Four years ago, my wife found lumps in one breast. For convenience, she went to a hospital (which I will not name) closer to our home. After a short examination, involving only a simple hand-held ultrasonic scanner, we went back together a few days later for the results. The doctor was dressed more like a business man. He looked at my wife's file, clearly for the first time, after we entered his office. The diagnosis was “malignant tumor” (cancer) and he recommended an immediate operation. They had not even taken a sample (biopsy) for analysis.

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