TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taipei Veterans General Hospital (台北榮總), one of Taiwan's premier medical institutions, unveiled ambitious plans on Monday (June 30) to construct the nation's first dedicated cardiovascular center, a specialized facility designed to revolutionize heart treatment protocols and patient outcomes. Hospital administrators have successfully secured NT$6 billion (approximately US$206.3 million) through internal funding mechanisms for the landmark project, which now awaits final authorization from the Executive Yuan (行政院), Taiwan's cabinet. Hospital President Chen Wei-ming (陳威明) revealed that preparatory organizational changes will commence in July when the hospital's cardiology and cardiac surgery departments will be consolidated into a unified treatment division.
The architectural plans reveal an impressive nine-story structure that will feature 120 general ward beds, 44 specialized intensive care units, and two cutting-edge hybrid operating theaters equipped with advanced imaging capabilities for complex cardiac procedures. During the announcement, President Chen emphasized that the new facility, which will be constructed within the existing hospital campus, represents a modernization rather than expansion effort, focusing on replacing outdated infrastructure with state-of-the-art treatment spaces. The hospital executive highlighted the financial independence of the project, noting that the entire construction cost will be covered by the hospital's operational reserves without drawing on government budget allocations.
Hospital leadership confirmed that the the cabinet, has already granted approval for the internal organizational restructuring scheduled to begin next month. This administrative transformation represents the first concrete step toward realizing the cardiovascular center's vision of integrated care delivery. Medical administrators anticipate that consolidating the previously separate cardiology and cardiac surgery departments will eliminate traditional silos in cardiac care, creating a more seamless treatment journey for patients with heart conditions. This integration model reflects global best practices in cardiovascular medicine and will significantly enhance our ability to deliver coordinated, multidisciplinary care to patients with complex cardiac needs, according to a hospital spokesperson. ◼