In bid to encourage healthier lifestyles among Taiwan's citizens, Taiwan launched the Bureau of Health Promotion yesterday, which will focus on preventive medicine rather than treatments.
The bureau, under the Department of Health, began official operations following yesterday's inauguration ceremony, presided over by President Chen Shui-bian (
"The establishment of the bureau is a declaration that the government will consider disease prevention to be a crucial task," Chen said. He added that Taiwan should promote public health education to prevent chronic diseases by encouraging people to lead healthy lifestyles. This will reduce the impact of diseases on individuals and on society at large, as well as result in savings in the nation's health expenditures, he said.
Chen also said, "Taiwan will share its successful experiences in health promotion and medical treatment with the world after it has become an observer at the World Health Organization."
Lee Ming-liang (李明亮), director-general of the health department, said: "The bureau's establishment is a milestone for the promotion of public health in Taiwan, making prevention, rather than just treatment, a major objective."
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