TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A delegation from Taichung Veterans General Hospital visited universities in Canada and local Taiwanese business associations to promote health care cooperation and showcase Taiwan’s medical expertise, CNA reported Wednesday.
Hospital Deputy Director Chou Yuan-hwa (周元華) said the visit aimed to introduce the hospital’s proton therapy technology to Canada. He noted that Canada does not have hospitals equipped with proton therapy systems, leading some cancer patients to seek treatment in the US.
Chou encouraged people with severe cancer conditions to consider Taiwan as a treatment destination, citing its high-quality medical care and lower costs.
Proton therapy is a radiation treatment that uses high-energy protons to target and destroy cancer cells precisely. It helps reduce radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissues and organs, and is especially useful for treating children with cancer.
Chou said the hospital will open its proton therapy center in August, joining about five hospitals in Taiwan that offer such treatment. He added that its affiliated Taipei Veterans General Hospital opened a Heavy Ion Therapy Center in 2023, which also uses radiation to destroy cancer cells and is used for treating advanced-stage cancer cases.
During the visit, the delegation also exchanged views with medical scholars from the University of Toronto and McGill University. The hospital plans to collaborate with the two universities on referrals and clinical research.
The delegation also signed cooperation agreements with two Taiwanese business associations in Toronto. Under the agreements, the hospital will hold health seminars, provide telemedicine services for Taiwanese residents in Toronto, and assist them in accessing medical services.
Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vancouver Director Angel Liu (劉立欣) said Taiwan and Canada have expanded exchanges at the government and medical levels since signing a cooperation agreement in May 2023. She said she hopes the visit will further strengthen collaboration between the two sides.
