Since 2018, Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital has been venturing into Vietnam with the assistance of the Ministry of Economic Affairs' Foreign Trade Association, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From the northern port city of Haiphong to the southern city of Can Tho, we have seen Taiwan's shoemaking industry integrate with Vietnam's abundant and inexpensive young labor force. We've witnessed the high-speed infrastructure achievements in Hanoi, the hospital base of Hoa Binh Steel Plant, Taiwan's sophisticated agriculture deeply rooted in Dalat, the rise of Buon Ma Thuot in the Central Highlands, the city and industrial park planning in Ninh Binh Province, the dense division of labor among Taiwanese businesses in Binh Duong Province, and Ho Chi Minh City playing the role of economic capital. We've also observed the Taiwanese heavy industry cluster and clinics in the Phuoc Long industrial zone in Tien Giang Province, a stronghold for new immigrants from Taiwan and Vietnam.
All of this is based on Vietnam's abundant demographic dividend, which will last for 35 years. How this dividend will create new blue oceans for Taiwan has been a constant question and exploration. Especially before Taiwan is hit by the tsunami of an aging population and declining birth rates, how do we have enough provisions?
Over the past two years, Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital has participated in the Ministry of Health and Welfare's New Southbound Medical and Health Cooperation and Industrial Development Plan, and jointly organized the Taiwan Medical Expo with the Foreign Trade Association. We have also invited dozens of Vietnamese medical elites to Taiwan to participate in medical technology exhibitions through the Taiwan External Trade Development Council. What have we gained? Only "quality medical equipment and materials" and "talent" can benefit Taiwan under the New Southbound Policy.
The emphasis on "quality medical equipment and materials" is that only industries that comply with the 2050 zero-carbon and ESG standards can enter the Vietnamese market. Especially in the face of the strong reverse engineering capabilities of mainland China, we have seen Taiwanese companies such as PM Group, Insight Medical Solutions Inc, Fu jun Biomedical, and AMBERSAN successfully enter the Vietnamese market.
It is worth mentioning that PM Group, with its new brand Superior, has deeply cultivated Vietnam and obtained certification from the FDA of the United States, the European Union, and Japan for chemotherapy-specific gloves. From Amazon to Walmart, Carrefour to Poco, its product line is deeply rooted in both Vietnam and Taiwan. PM Group CEO Lin Guo-Tang and Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital both agree that "the biggest difference between the medical industry and the technology electronics industry is the 'cultivation of users'. Superior has successfully entered many hospitals in Vietnam, and Evolguard has also become widely used in Taiwanese hospitals, allowing every medical elite in Southeast Asia to see Taiwan's quality products during their training in Taiwan, which is the best way to win their hearts."
During our visit to Vietnam with Insight Medical Solutions Director Song De-Jin, we all agree that "leading with medicine, Taiwan's hospitals lead Taiwan's industries into Southeast Asia. The key point is to 'select Taiwanese manufacturers' and collect innovative products from Taiwan manufacturers into a catalog, just like Muji, Taiwan selects medical materials carefully. Don't let Southeast Asian hospitals feel that Taiwanese hospitals are just coming to sell goods, not providing a general menu for Southeast Asian hospitals, but providing a carefully selected menu."
Through introductions from Taiwanese dental material vendors, TTY Biopharm, and Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital has formed alliances with Bang Mod Medical University and its affiliated hospitals, Seiyuan Specialized School, Ho Chi Minh Medical University Hospital, Can Tho Medical University, the Saigon Dental Association, 175 Military Hospital, National Cancer Hospital, and Daxuanch Hospital. In addition to regular communication mechanisms, we will jointly use Taiwan's three medical colleges and nursing colleges to introduce basic human resources in healthcare, nursing, and technology through a dual-degree system, starting from the local education source in Vietnam. With the advantage of Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital's university and medical system, we will export the model of Taiwan's medical education, achieve standardized talent cultivation, and advance Taiwan's localization in advance, preparing the basic human resources needed for the ultra-aging society in Taiwan.
We sincerely hope that the new government taking office on May 20th will prioritize "provisions first". Only "quality medical equipment and materials" and "talent" can benefit Taiwan under the New Southbound Policy, opening up a new paradise for Taiwan's leading global medical and biomedical industry.
