TAIPEI (TVBS News) — New Taipei City (新北市) launched an ambitious plan on March 14 to establish a smart health center in Wulai District (烏來區), the city's sole indigenous area. The city has since invested millions to integrate telemedicine and electronic medical records for indigenous communities. The initiative aims to address healthcare needs of residents with chronic and gastrointestinal diseases.
Mayor Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜) emphasized the city's commitment to advancing its New Taipei City Medical Movement Nourishment Policy. The policy focuses on smart health clinics, telemedicine, and the New Taipei City Rural Long-term Care All-in-One Plan. The Wulai District Public Health Center will upgrade equipment to enable intelligent physiological measurement, electronic medical records, and healthcare systems.
Telemedicine will allow Wulai residents to consult with specialist doctors via video calls, significantly improving healthcare access in the remote indigenous area. The clinic's electronic medical record system will upload health data to the cloud, including blood pressure, blood sugar, and body measurements. The cloud-based system ensures real-time updates and comprehensive management of residents' health information.
The city government procured 1,000 doses of shingles vaccines and introduced a fully subsidized program. The initiative targets senior citizens over 65, indigenous people over 55, and low-income or immunocompromised patients. Mayor Hou highlighted the program's goal to provide vulnerable groups with healthier living conditions, particularly those at high risk for Herpes Zoster. ◼