Ma made the suggestion when delivering a speech at the annual conference of the Health Promoting Hospitals Association of Taiwan, held in Taipei yesterday.

He pointed out that Taiwan's medical professionals and hospitals currently provide superior services across the board, and are considered highly cost effective, convenient, efficient, and with high customer satisfaction levels.

Ma encouraged medical workers to continue providing their best patient care with advanced medical know-how and facilities.

He also encouraged the larger hospitals to take advantage of the nation's rapidly progressing biotechnology industry to explore new opportunities and expand the health care sector into another market niche for Taiwan's economy.

Ma praised the active role played by the association after it joined an international health-care and hospitals promoting network under the World Health Organization.

As many as 55 hospitals in Taiwan have earned the WHO certification in just three years, making Taiwan the fourth biggest member in the network, he said.

The association in Taiwan is scheduled to host the network's 20th annual international symposium in 2012, he revealed.

Ma praised Chiu Shu-yi, chairwoman of the local association, for her leadership and contributions.

When serving as director of the Department of Health under the Taipei City Government, Chiu had organized a series of health promoting activities, including helping residents in the city to "shed 180 metric tons" in aggregate weight in less than one year.

Ma, who was Taipei mayor at that time, said he personally joined the campaign and lost eight kilograms.

He also said the government will build 10 public sports centers and 10 sports parks in 2009 and that number will gradually increase in the years ahead to provide more sports facilities for the people.

Superintendents of leading medical institutions backed Ma's proposal of developing the health industry.

Some of them said their hospitals have mapped out projects to provide advanced medical treatment for Taiwan's businesspeople operating in China and offer health examination packages for Chinese tourists during their visits here.

There is tremendous business potential for such services now that Taiwan and China have reached deals to expand direct chartered flights and launch the regularly scheduled flights across the Taiwan Strait, they said.

Others said they will focus on accelerating development in certain specific fields like heart surgery, organ transplants, and plastic surgery to bolster their international reputations.

Many also aim to cultivate new medical frontiers like disease prevention, rehabilitation, distance medical care networks, and services needed especially by middle-aged people and senior citizens in the graying society.