Newly updated and translated into Simplified Chinese, Patients Beyond Borders’ Taiwan Edition provides information on Taiwan’s top healthcare options and specialties along with tips for accessing the highest quality, most affordable medical care. Patients Beyond Borders: Taiwan, Second Edition has been updated and translated into Simplified Chinese. The Taiwan Task Force for Medical Travel (TTFMT) and Patients Beyond Borders jointly announce the publication of Patients Beyond Borders: Taiwan, Second Edition, Simplified Chinese Translation for international distribution. Supported by government agencies and hospitals in Taiwan, the consumer guidebook, first published in 2009, has been fully updated and translated into Simplified Chinese. The edition offers an in-depth overview of Taiwan’s healthcare system, its leading international hospitals, medical specialties and procedures, selected health travel agents, nearby guest accommodations, and area travel information. Healthcare consumers, particularly those from neighboring China in search of quality and value, will find Taiwan’s prices for medical procedures to be competitive with other leading international healthcare destinations such as Thailand, South Korea, and Singapore. Taiwan currently offers 14 facilities with clinical accreditation from the Joint Commission International, which provides additional comfort to the international medical traveler seeking the highest level of care. “Taiwan has now become a destination of choice for the tens of millions of Chinese-speaking patients seeking access to high-quality medical care,” says Patients Beyond Borders CEO Josef Woodman. “Taiwan’s affordable prices combined with its world-class healthcare system, hospitals, and clinics, provide Chinese patients access to a setting of language and cultural familiarity for nearly every kind of medical procedure.” Recent initiatives by the Taiwanese government to simplify and expedite the medical visa process for Chinese patients, coupled with a steady increase in direct flights from China to Taiwan, have attracted significant numbers of visitors from China. Further fueling the 20%+ growth, a new government policy allows hospitals to apply for visas for groups of up to 30 Mainland Chinese citizens seeking health screenings and cosmetic procedures. “The publication of Patients Beyond Borders: Taiwan, Second Edition in Simplified Chinese now allows Chinese-speaking patients everywhere even greater access to one of the world’s most comprehensive healthcare systems,” says Dr. Mingyen Wu, CEO of TTFMT and Secretary-General, Taiwan Nongovernmental Hospitals and Clinics Association. “We are pleased to be working with Patients Beyond Borders on this project.” Patients Beyond Borders: Taiwan, Second Edition will be distributed by Publisher’s Group West to bookstores in China and the region. In July 2013, the edition will be available through a variety of digital sources including the Patients Beyond Borders and TTMFT websites. About the Taiwan Task Force for Medical Travel Launched in October of 2007, the Taiwan Task force for Medical Travel (TTFMT) was created as a platform to promote inbound medical travel, integrate resources, and streamline cooperation across leading governmental organizations, the Department of Health (DOH), and related industries and medical institutions. TTFMT is administered by the Taiwan Nongovernmental Hospitals and Clinics Association and supported by the Department of Health (DOH), Council for Economic Planning and Development, the Tourism Bureau, Government Information Office, Taiwan External Trade Development Council, and the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research. Its vision is to position Taiwan as a global leader of five-star medical travel destinations. For media queries, please contact: Yu-Jen Serena Lin Taiwan Task Force for Medical Travel, sponsored by DOH Administrator Tel: 886.2.2885.1528 ext 20 Web: http://medicaltravel.org.tw Email: [email protected] About Patients Beyond Borders Patients Beyond Borders, based in Chapel Hill, NC, publishes books, eBooks, online resources, and mobile applications for healthcare consumers seeking the best global options in medical care. Its flagship international title, Patients Beyond Borders, soon to be published in its Third Edition, is the world’s leading consumer reference guide for medical tourism. Country editions, city editions, and facility editions help healthcare consumers make informed choices in searching, vetting, and obtaining safe, high-quality, affordable healthcare around the world. For more information or media queries, please contact: Email: [email protected] Tel: +1 919.924.0636 Web: http://www.patientsbeyondborders.com