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TAIPEI: With more than 3,000 mainlanders visiting Taiwan everyday, Taipei is leveraging on its medical expertise to woo Chinese visitors to visit the island for medical services and sight-seeing.
The medical-tourism sector is estimated to worth more than US$21 million a year, and is set to balloon to over US$30 million by 2015.
Awareness about lung cancer in Taiwan has reach new heights after Vice President Vincent Siew's surprise brush with the disease, especially since Mr Siew was known for his healthy lifestyle.
The public interest in cancer prevention and treatment also led to a surge in demand for high-end medical examinations.
Dr Leu Jyh-Gang, chief of Health Management Department at Shin Kong Memorial Hospital, said: "After Mr Siew's case, the number of lung cancer examinations saw a 30 per cent jump.
"We can accommodate 15 patients per day, but patients have to wait for two to three weeks for the examination (due to the long queue). So, we plan to increase the clinic's capacity."
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan and CT Scan are the most common examinations adopted in Taiwan. Doctors say these checkups are efficient and highly accurate in examining cancers and cardiological diseases.
Take PET scan for example - after a dose of radioactive tracer is taken, the dysfunctional organs inside a patient's body can be pictured through the machine in just four hours. This was also the method in which Mr Siew discovered he had lung cancer.
Soon, these medical services will also be made available to visitors from other countries. Local hospitals see the boon in the mainland tourism as an opportunity to grab a bigger pie of the growing medical industry.
Analysts estimate that if 10 per cent of the Chinese visitors spend some US$600 each on physical exams in Taiwan, this will generate annual revenues of US$200 million.
Dr Leu said: "This is Taiwan's big chance. We provide detailed and high quality exams, plus years of experiences. We offer packages combining health checkups and travelling.
"For instance, PET scan costs US$1,550 in the mainland. For the same price, Chinese visitors can have a PET scan and a five-day tour in Taiwan."
To establish a beach head, representatives from 12 Taiwan hospitals will take part in this year's Hong Kong tourism show.
Yeh Ming-Shui, executive vice president of the Taiwan External Trade Development Council, said: "Taiwan has the world's highest survival rate for lung transplants. We also specialise in dental implantation, modern Chinese medicine and orthopaedics."
On top of that, industry players and the government have also come up with the medical travel initiative programme to promote health treatments such as hot springs, cosmetic surgery, and optometry.
The Taiwanese government hopes that Taiwan will emerge as another medical tourism hub in Asia, and grab a share of the pie which is currently dominated by Thailand and Singapore.
- CNA/yb
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