Beijing's proposal to allow Taiwanese to invest in the construction of hospitals in China has been met by mixed reactions here.
"The gap between rich and poor in China remains huge," said Chu I-hung (
Chang Huan-chen (張煥禎), Chief Executive Officer of the Taiwan-invested Shanghai Chenxin Hospital, said hospitals that are considering opening branches could secure long-term operations if they manage to overcome problems with government regulations and are able to attract sufficient numbers of local patients.
The proposal was made during the two-day economic and trade forum in Beijing last week, in which the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Chinese Communist Party (CCP) reached agreements on several trade-related issues.
Specifically, investors from Taiwan would be able to possess up to 70 percent of a hospital's shares with any joint partnership lasting up to 20 years, with the possibility of an extension when the initial contract expires.
Some believe both sides of the Taiwan Strait will be able to benefit from the opportunity.
Chang Chin-wen (張錦文), honorary chairman of the Taiwan Hospital Association, indicated that entrepreneurs are reluctant to build large hospitals in Taiwan due to the problematic health insurance system. However, over 1,300 house physicians qualify each year.
China's offer could help ease the oversupply of manpower and increase employment opportunities for young doctors. Meanwhile, Chang said the measure could help raise standards of medical care in China.
President of the Taiwan Medical Alliance Association Kao Ming-chien (高明見) said hospitals such as Cardinal Tien, Chimei Medical Center and Cathay had already assessed the possibility of building new hospitals in China. As the marketplace there has huge economies of scale others are keen to jump on the bandwagon too, Kao said.
Wu Ming-yan (
The Chinese government has also proposed that Taiwanese doctors can apply for licenses in order to practice in China. This has generated concern that doctors will abandon Taiwan and seek new opportunities in China.
Taiwan Medical Association spokesperson Shih Hsien-yan (
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