TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Ministry of Health and Welfare (衛福部) announced Friday (Jan. 24) that National Taiwan University Hospital's Yunlin Branch (台大醫院雲林分院) has been upgraded from a regional hospital to a quasi-medical center. Chang Li-shan (張麗善), Yunlin County magistrate, noted that residents will no longer need to travel long distances to seek treatment at medical centers elsewhere.
Ma Huei-ming (馬惠明), director of the Yunlin Branch, stated that the hospital has already reached the standards of a medical center and will continue to strive to improve healthcare quality. Ma emphasized that patient co-payments will remain at regional hospital rates without adjustments. Tseng Chun-mai (曾春美), director of Yunlin's Public Health Bureau (雲林縣衛生局), confirmed plans to coordinate with the hospital to ensure no increase in administrative fees for medical services.
The Yunlin Branch plans to invest over NT$300 million in the first half of this year to acquire cardiac catheterization equipment, a Da Vinci surgical system, and a hybrid operating room system. Ma disclosed that a new group of doctors will join the hospital in August, further enhancing the quality of medical services. This upgrade marks a significant step forward for Yunlin County, promising improved healthcare access and quality for its residents. As the hospital implements these new developments, the community can anticipate a broader range of medical services closer to home.