TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Tainan, along with several government ministries, held a major health expo on Friday, promoting data integration and AI as key tools to improve healthcare quality and reduce system strain.
The two-day “Greater Southern AI Smart Health Expo” opened at the Greater Tainan Exhibition Center, backed by the National Science and Technology Council, Ministry of Digital Affairs, Ministry of Health and Welfare, and Tainan City Government. Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) and Mayor Huang Wei-che (黃偉哲) presided over the opening and toured exhibits showcasing developments, per the Tainan City Government.
Cho said the event brings together healthcare providers, researchers, and AI firms to demonstrate Taiwan’s progress in smart health innovation aligned with President Lai Ching-te’s (賴清德) “Healthy Taiwan” and “Balanced Taiwan” policies. He added that the government aims to complete electronic medical record systems at medical centers by this year, expand to regional hospitals by 2027, and clinics by 2028 to cut duplicate testing and administrative burdens.
He said future policy will focus on data governance and openness, ensuring health data can be used securely while protecting privacy. AI integration, he added, is expected to improve efficiency for medical staff and create safer, more accessible care for patients.
Huang said AI has become a critical tool for social and industrial progress, echoing Lai’s description of it as a defining technology of the future. He said AI can assist doctors with imaging analysis, diagnosis, and recordkeeping, helping address heavy workloads and nursing shortages.
Huang noted that the expo’s location in the Shalun Smart Green Energy Science City highlights its role as a southern innovation hub originally planned during Lai’s tenure as Tainan mayor. He said the city will continue aligning with central government policy to accelerate AI adoption in healthcare.
The city’s Economic Development Bureau said the expo featured five themed zones, including smart home care, tech-enabled rehabilitation, AI-assisted diagnostics, industry collaboration, and digital health transformation. More than 100 companies presented over 120 technologies, with potential business opportunities estimated to exceed NT$100 million (US$3,169,120), per the Tainan City Economic Development Bureau.
The event was also linked with local tourism and retail, including promotions with Mitsui Outlet Park Tainan via app notifications and coupons. The expo was expected to boost nearby travel, dining, and consumer spending, per the Economic Daily News.
