On October 7, the Ministry of Health and Welfare officially launched the Next-Generation Digital Healthcare Platform Project, establishing three major AI centers. National Cheng Kung University Hospital (NCKUH) and Tri-Service General Hospital (TSGH) were jointly selected as the "AI Impact Research Center", positioning themselves as key promoters in the application of AI technology in healthcare. Through evidence-based medical technology assessments, they aim to explore the relationship between scientifically validated smart medical device pricing and AI clinical applications in Taiwan. Together, they are working to address issues related to National Health Insurance reimbursement standards, enhance public health benefits, and optimize medical processes.

Dr. Lee Jing-Wei, President of NCKUH, remarked that technology is a double-edged sword; as it advances, AI's powerful capabilities also bring potential risks. Since technology is closely linked to life, caution is especially necessary in the medical field. NCKUH carefully considers each step, prioritizing stability over speed and making decisions prudently. In the future, everyone will be a stakeholder in AI development, and we aim to advance together toward a more intelligent future, driving societal progress so that smart healthcare can be integrated into daily life. We are committed to advocating for AI medical care services to be covered under National Health Insurance, ensuring that they are accessible to all.

The collaboration between the two major medical centers, NCKUH and TSGH, leverages their combined strengths: NCKUH's extensive clinical trial experience and exceptional inter-hospital alliance research, and TSGH's robust capacity to integrate extensive medical resources as a national defense healthcare hub. By combining clinical trial resources and technical expertise, this inter-regional partnership demonstrates a strong commitment to advancing smart healthcare. Through clinical effectiveness assessments and economic analyses of AI medical tools, they aim to provide a scientific foundation for the medical application of AI technology, paving the way for the development of smart healthcare.

NCKUH is focused on several core tasks, including establishing an inter-hospital alliance and validation platform, standardizing clinical trial processes, and bringing together experts in economics, public health, information technology, and biostatistics to analyze the cost-effectiveness of medical AI tools. By adopting the Smart on FHIR data interoperability standard, they ensure data compatibility and have established a secure, privacy-protected validation environment as a foundation for AI technology trials and applications. Additionally, through the inter-hospital collaboration platform, they facilitate data sharing to promote the validation and optimization of AI technology in clinical practice.

The "Joint AI Impact Research Center" adheres to principles of fairness, transparency, and professionalism, aligning with central government policies and international standards. By collaborating closely with multidisciplinary experts and healthcare institutions across northern and southern Taiwan, it ensures the provision of diverse support services, promoting the application of AI technology across various scales. The center will actively advance the commercialization of AI technology in clinical healthcare, helping domestic and international companies expedite the productization of AI technologies for shared development. NCKUH is confident in enhancing Taiwan's influence within the global healthcare technology industry and establishing itself as a key hub for smart healthcare technology in the Asia-Pacific region.

Source: Public Relations Section, Dept. of Secretariat, NCKUH https://nckuhdopa.hosp.ncku.edu.tw/p/404-1050-265435.php