National Taiwan University Hospital as a centre of excellence for clinical trials in Asia Pacific, Focus Reports
Release Date: 2010-10-11
According to the superintendent of the National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH), Ming-Fong Chen, remaining a Centre of Excellence for clinical trials requires the optimal combination of various factors: proofs of its competency, an infrastructure fit for purpose, having the best people and expertise, and above all, the latest innovation. Chen told Focus Reports in an exclusive interview: “It is our level of innovation that allows us today to stand up as a Centre of Excellence for clinical trials”.Created in 1895, The NTUH is today one the largest medical facilities in Taiwan. As the preferred partner for most big pharmaceutical companies in Taiwan for clinical trials, the hospital is in the position to offer the Taiwanese people the latest innovations which have just been released from the pharmaceutical industry through clinical trials. The National Taiwan University Hospital furthers its work in clinical trials everyday and forges long term links with the industry by promoting their state-of-the-art facilities. As a public hospital, the NTUH benefits in a tangible way from the Taiwanese government’s drive in the health care sector, highlighted by the executive Yuan (the executive branch of the Taiwanese government) as one of the six key sectors for future economic and sustainable growth in Taiwan. “In the next ten years, the NTUH should be the leading Centre of Excellence for clinical trials in the entire Asia Pacific Region”, said Chen.
Chen’s key strategy consists in entering the Chinese market in order to establish this leading position.
In Chen’s opinion, there are two different ways of looking at China. The first consists in Taiwan playing a secondary role, because of the obvious size difference between both markets. The other way is to see China as a potential market in which Taiwan could be highly competitive, but only if its level of innovation is high enough. “If innovation comes from Taiwan and is protected by patents, then it can be sold worldwide and China would become our closest and biggest market,” says Chen.
The Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA), which was recently negotiated between China and Taiwan should lead to a harmonization and easing of trade activities between the two markets thanks to a reciprocal tariff reduction, and ensure medical cooperation and investment protection. Although the discussions concerning the health care sector industry in the agreement are still under way, Chen already sees in ECFA serious business opportunities. By collaborating with Chinese hospitals, developing medical tourism in Taiwan and attracting the global Chinese pharmaceutical industry to conduct clinical trials in Taiwan, the NTUH will surely move forward in its quest.
| Type: | NORMAL |
| Company: | Focus Reports |
| Country: | 瑞士 |