"衛生署署長為國際醫療專區辯護"
2011-03-25 週一,衛生署署長邱文達為政府計畫開放國際醫療專區一事辯護。民進黨立委黃淑英表示該專區的醫院將專門治療有錢的外國人,而一般台灣老百姓「只能在次等醫院接受醫療」。 邱署長的回應是該專區將為台灣醫院帶來利潤並且可以把最好的醫生留在台灣。 根據衛生署的計畫,鄰近桃園國際機場的一塊土地已經被預留成為醫療專區,該專區將放置逾200張病床。預計桃園國際醫療專區將產生高達40億新台幣的私人投資並且在四年內吸引45,000醫療觀光客。邱署長告訴立法委員此開發案對當地醫療保健產業是有益處的,因為專區內的醫院必須將20%利潤撥進全國健保基金。他也表示日本、南韓和新加坡已經開始成立類似的醫療專區,所以如果台灣沒有跟進,台灣最優秀的年輕醫生就有可能把醫療技術帶到國外。
(Local) Health Minister Defends International Medical Zone
Department of Health Minister Chiu Wen-ta on Monday defended government plans to open an international medical zone. Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Huang Sue-ying had commented that as hospitals in the zone would only treat wealthy foreigners, regular Taiwanese citizens would only be able to receive medical care at sub-par hospitals. Chiu responded that the zone would actually create money for the nations hospitals and keep the best local doctors in the country. Under the departments plans, an area near to the Taoyuan International Airport has been set aside for the special zone, which will contain more than 200 hospital beds. The Taoyuan International Medical Zone is expected to generate NT$4 billion of private investment and attract 45,000 medical tourists within 4 years. Chiu told lawmakers that the development will actually be good for the local healthcare industry as the hospitals within the zone would have to give 20% of their profits to the National Health Insurance (NHI) fund. He added that Japan, South Korea and Singapore have already begun setting up similar medical zones, and that if Taiwan did not follow suit, the nations best young doctors might take their skills overseas.