While attending an opening ceremony at the Taiwan AI Academy, Vice President Lai Ching-te said that Taiwan has a world-leading medical data base of National Health Insurance beneficiaries as well as a highly capable healthcare system. With a strong foundation in information communication technologies built over several decades, it is hoped that Taiwan’s key healthcare and technology industries can work together to elevate Taiwan’s competitiveness.

Vice President Lai said that the global trend towards smart technologies is inevitable and whether Taiwan will have a role in the global market will depend progress in forming strategies that integrate artificial intelligence (AI) with industries and bringing AI applications to everyday life.

Vice President Lai emphasized that if Taiwan is able to connect its immense medical data base with healthcare capabilities with the technology capabilities of the information and communication sector, Taiwan will have a lead over the rest of the world in terms of developing smart healthcare systems.

Vice President Lai continued to say that the government has also been actively promoting research on Taiwan’s medical data base. The Ministry of Health and Welfare has approved six types of cellular therapeutics. In the future, the government will continue to ease regulations and draft budgets to accelerate joint efforts by public health authorities and the technology sector in furthering advancements in Taiwan’s healthcare capabilities. In the future, a “national team” of interdepartmental representatives will be formed to ensure the people’s health and further industrial innovations.

Finally, Vice President Lai said that President Tsai Ing-wen has affirmed aspirations to build Taiwan into a “smart nation” by announcing plans to form a new government agency to oversee Taiwan’s development in the digital realm.

[2020-08-23 / Presidential Office]