TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Taitung County Government has provided telemedicine services to residents in the county’s remote areas since 2020, with more than 18,000 individuals benefiting from the program.
According to the county’s health department, the initiative was developed in collaboration with Taitung MacKay Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, and Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital. The service helps overcome geographical barriers and a lack of medical resources, providing support to many seniors in the county, per CNA.
The department shared the case of a man surnamed Tsai (蔡), who lives alone and has a skin condition. Due to his mobility issues, he was unable to travel to hospitals for treatment. With the help of the telemedicine service, his condition is under control.
In June, the Telecommunication and Transportation Foundation donated NT$800,000 (US$25,000) worth of cardiovascular screening and 5G transmission equipment to the department, with Far EasTone providing technical support for video consultations.
For individuals with chronic illnesses or at high risk of cardiovascular disease, the foundation will offer smart wearable devices that integrate with Far EasTone’s 5G network and a mobile app to track users' health in real time.
Far EasTone said that it has established Taiwan’s first 5G telemedicine site in Taitung’s Dawu Township and is working with hospitals to offer remote consultations. The company added that its telemedicine technology has expanded to 15 regions nationwide, serving nearly 70,000 medical visits.
In December, the Ministry of Health and Welfare launched a pilot program to deliver medication by drone to remote areas, with test flights already underway in Hualien and Hsinchu. Over the course of one year, 30 test flights will be conducted to gather weather and flight data.
The ministry said the Civil Aviation Administration will use the data to establish flight regulations for drone-based medication delivery. The agency also plans to amend the Law of Pharmacists to allow medication to be delivered without being handed over directly by a pharmacist in such cases.
