TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Health and Welfare will expand adoption of the Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources program to enable medical record interoperability among major hospitals by the end of this year, with plans to extend the initiative to smaller hospitals and clinics.
The program enables real-time exchange of medical records and health data across different healthcare information systems. It links hospital databases to allow diagnoses, prescriptions, and laboratory results to be securely shared across medical institutions, per CNA.
At a medical forum on Monday, Vice Health Minister Chuang Jen-hsiang (莊人祥) said cybersecurity and digital infrastructure remain key challenges for Taiwan’s healthcare institutions. He noted the ministry will use National Health Insurance reimbursement incentives to encourage hospitals to adopt the program.
Chuang added that digital development will be incorporated into hospital accreditation assessments.
Amid global trends in smart healthcare, Taiwan aims to move hospital IT from closed systems toward interoperability and integration. Chuang said the ministry does not plan to mandate hospital adoption of the program through legislation.
Lee Chien-chang (李建璋), director of the ministry’s information department, said more than 30 medical record systems are used by Taiwan’s major hospitals. Most records are not interoperable across institutions, requiring individuals to obtain medical records from one facility before seeking care at another.
Last year, the ministry completed medical record interoperability among MacKay Memorial Hospital, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, and Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and their affiliated hospitals through adoption of the program. It aims to extend the program to all regional hospitals, clinics, and public health centers by 2028.
Lee highlighted the system’s security measures, noting that access to medical records is only permitted following identity authentication and authorization through the program’s server.
Lee added Taiwan is a key global leader in medical technology with strong ICT and AI capabilities, but lacks standardized software to integrate hospital databases. He stressed the need to support domestic medical institutions in data integration and promote digital equity.
