New Southbound Policy Portal

Huang Shier-chieg (center), commissioner of TCG’s Department of Health, is joined by TAH President Huang Hui-ting (third right) and other officials in announcing the collaborative project to boost the number of Muslim-friendly hospitals in the metropolis April 15 in Taipei City. (Courtesy of TCG)

Taipei is working with Taiwan Adventist Hospital to increase the number of Muslim-friendly medical centers in the metropolis as part of its efforts to provide a welcoming environment for Muslim residents and visitors, according to the city government April 15.
 
Last November, Taipei-based TAH became the first hospital in Taiwan to receive Muslim-friendly certification from the Indonesian Council of Ulama, the Southeast Asian nation’s top Islamic body. Under the collaborative project with Taipei City Government, the hospital will offer consulting services to help other medical institutions apply for this status.
 
TAH President Huang Hui-ting said that the hospital pursued certification in line with the government’s New Southbound Policy. To pass the qualification process, it ensured cosmetics, drugs and food meet Halal Assessment System requirements, and set up Muslim prayer rooms with Qurans, prayers rugs and washing facilities, he added.
 
According to the TCG Department of Health, the Muslim-friendly hospital project is implemented in support of a Ministry of Health and Welfare initiative to strengthen the internationalization of local medical services.
 
The MOHW project aims to transform Taiwan into a preferred medical tourism destination and provide quality care to Muslim residents and tourists. Ministry statistics showed that around 8,000 patients each year from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan and Middle Eastern countries accessed health services in Taipei between 2014 and 2018.
 
A key component of President Tsai Ing-wen’s national development strategy, the NSP is deepening Taiwan’s agricultural, business, cultural, education, tourism and trade ties with the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states, six South Asian countries, Australia and New Zealand. (HC-E)