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For the convenience of international visitors to receive medical help at TCM clinics, all NHI contracted TCM clinics in Hualien and Taitung will feature bilingual/text encoded signs.
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In order to help international visitors in Hualien and Taitung Counties locate and identify NHI contracted TCM clinics quickly to receive medical help to safeguard their rights to receive quality medical treatment, the Bureau of National Health Insurance (NHI), Eastern Region Branch has specially collaborated with the chairman of TCM Physicians’ Association in Hualien County, Mr. Lan Chi-Wen M.D. and entered into agreement with the TCM Physicians’ Association in Hualien and Taitung to create “Bilingual/Text encoded signs for NHI contracted TCM clinics for all TCM clinics in the region. Starting from July 20th, 2007, 51 HNI contracted medical institutions (47 clinics and 4 hospitals) in Hualien and Taitung Counties feature new signs for TCM clinics to be geared into international standards.
With more than 5,000 years of history, Traditional Chinese Medicine has enormous breadth and depth. It is universally considered to be the most precious and the finest part of the ancient Chinese culture. It is the fruit bore from the labor of numerous great minds that had devoted their entire lives to the study of medicine, and after thousands of years of constant actual practice and logical deduction, a unique and comprehensive theoretical system has already been established for TCM. People in Taiwan have always relied upon TCM to safeguard their health, and this hasn’t changed the least bit as time passed. In recent years, TCM physicians incorporated advanced scientific instruments and technologies into TCM, which further demonstrated TCM’s unique characteristics and advantages. According to the statistics provided by the Bureau of National Health Insurance, Eastern Region Branch, at the end of June 2007, a total of 8,484 international visitors residing in the region have been covered in the NHI program (5,808 visitors in Hualien and 2,767 visitors in Taitung) and the number has been growing over the years. The Hualien region in particular has witnessed numerous English language centers from springing up, and the rate of employment of foreign English teachers in eastern Taiwan is growing rapidly. The Hualien region is exceptionally rich in natural resources and scenic spots such as the magnificent Taroko Valley that draws numerous tourists regularly. In recent years, TCM treatment in Taiwan has become famous throughout the world for its quality. However, TCM treatment is currently not covered in medical insurance overseas and conversely, the NHI available in Taiwan covers a wide variety of medical services. On top of coverage for medical treatments at Western medical institutions, the NHI also covers treatments at TCM and dental clinics, making it very easy and convenient for visitors seeking medical help.
The Bureau of National Health Insurance Eastern Branch Office has recently held the 2007 Conference on National Health Insurance Benefits for International Visitors in Taiwan in May, with all participants from English speaking countries. During the conference, participants mentioned that though they have wanted to seek medical help at TCM clinics, they were unable to do so as they had difficulties in identifying NHI contracted TCM clinics. Therefore, the Bureau of National Health Insurance Eastern Branch Office has specially collaborated with Lan Chi-Wen M.D., chairman of the TCM Physicians’ Association in the creation of bilingual/text encoded signs to be put up at all NHI contracted TCM clinics in the region in order for international visitors to identify them. In addition, these signs and icons, along with the list of NHI contracted TCM clinics will be made available on the Bureau of National Health Insurance Eastern Branch Office’s bilingual website and covered in the Eastern Branch Office’s electronic newsletter. At the same time, this information will be printed into pamphlets to be placed at locations where foreigners are more likely to gather, including Hualien and Taitung Airport, Immigration Office’s Hualien Service Location, Foreign Spouse Service Center, Bureau of National Health Insurance Eastern Branch Office Service Center and its Taitung Office to provide guides and references on local medical services for foreign tourists and international visitors in the region.
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