Reported by Lo Wei-Chou from Taipei

Since the inauguration of the TFDA’s platform of open data on foods and drugs in 2014, over 1.3 million records in 92 data clusters have been uploaded for the public’s access.  The platform has attracted more than 200,000 viewers, led to the launch of more than 20 value-added applications, and been rated as a 4.4-star service by 500 users (top rating is 5 stars).

The TFDA has been promoting the application of the data since the introduction of this open data platform.  The TFDA held a press conference on January 28 to showcase the results of various applications of the data. Chung Chia-Der, the Executive Secretary of the Board of Science and Technology (BOST) of the Executive Yuan, was invited to attend the press conference.  An array of internet-based services and mobile applications were on exhibition.  

Chiang Been-Huang, the Minister of the MOHW, expressed that the government shares the data with the private sectors in order to transform data into useful information.  This will not only increase the transparency and efficiency of the government’s operation, but also help improve the government’s welfare policies.  It is to the benefit of the whole nation. 

The TFDA pointed out that “Open Data” has become a hot topic, attracting international attention and discussions.  The Taiwanese government has been promoting the public’s access to the data with a view to creating added values of the data.  With the support from Simon Chang, a former Executive Yuan Minister without Portfolio and now the Deputy Premier of the Executive Yuan, the TFDA started the open data project in 2013.  Since then, 92 data clusters and 1.3 million records of data have been created, attracting over 200,000 users. So far, the open data has generated more than 20 value-added applications.  500 users of the open data gave it an average rating of 4.4 stars.

The TFDA expressed that there have been many creative applications of the open data, for example, a product verification service created by a technology company to double check the purchase of products on e-commerce platforms and to provide clear product information and label contents to consumers.  Chiang Yu-Mei, the Deputy Director of the TFDA, expressed that this service provides further protection on drug safety and gives consumers and retailers peace of mind when ordering products on the internet. 

The TFDA is going to held two contests to award the most creative uses of the open data on foods and drugs.  The TFDA will pick the best 10 applications and introduce them to the public. For more information, please go to the TFDA’s open data website (http://data.fda.gov.tw/)

【2015-01-28/ Great News】