Taiwan well-positioned for medical tourism: official

An official from the Department of Health said Friday that Taiwan is well-positioned to attract medical tourists from overseas. Hwang Kung-chang says the country's advanced medical technologies and highly-qualified physicians mean Taiwan is well able to compete with other Asian countries in the medical tourism market.

A California-based insurance company recently signed an agreement to develop referral services with eight of Taiwan's top hospitals. This will allow Central Health Plan of California -- one of the largest insurers in the state -- to refer its clients to receive health care in Taiwan.

Hwang said that Taiwan has lagged behind other Asian countries such as Singapore and Thailand in promoting international medical services. But he says the country's high quality of medical care and relatively low cost of treatment give it a competitive edge.

Overseas Chinese are a particular target for Taiwan's promotion of healthcare services, due to a shared language and culture.