Taiwan’s health-innovation engine is shifting up a gear. Across hospitals, clinics, and precision-manufacturing firms, artificial intelligence is moving from pilots to daily practice.
The country’s most compelling advances aren’t about replacing people with code; they’re about building human-centered systems where AI makes skilled clinicians and engineers better. Medical imaging is leading the shift. At Taipei Beitou Health Management Hospital, Superintendent Dr. Chao-Jung Wei explains: “I read a lot of images every day. AI now acts as a second reader – flagging subtle findings and double-checking my work. It’s not replacing clinical judgment; it’s reinforcing it.”
This co-pilot model aligns with Taiwan’s mature digital infrastructure. With electronic medical records and standardized imaging archives already in place, inference engines slot naturally into workflows. Clinicians gain triage support while administrators harvest cleaner data for quality improvement and research.
Human-Centered by Design
The most counterintuitive theme in Taiwan’s AI journey is restraint. Usoon Clinic in Taipei has streamlined IVF protocols, trimming hormone injections from 10-20 down to just 3-5, all administered in-clinic. “Patients appreciate not only the reduced medication, but the simplicity of the whole process,” says founder Dr. Hsin-Yang Li.
At Vision Eye Center, Dr. Tsong-Chi Chang emphasizes predictable outcomes and patient confidence in refractive laser surgery. “The biggest jump patients feel is freedom – reading and driving without glasses. The tech matters, but the experience matters more,” he notes.
Digital Twins and Predictive Planning
AI’s next frontier is pre-operative planning. A-Top Health Biotech is developing software that models volume and contour changes for thread-based facial procedures. “Our goal isn’t to automate decisions; it’s to give surgeons a clearer map,” says founder and Chairperson Olivia Tseng. “It’s human in the loop from start to finish.”
AI in medicine starts long before patients enter a clinic. Taiwan’s machine-tool ecosystem is embedding AI and IoT, producing higher-precision components for medical devices. Hosea Precision in Taichung is one example. “We are using AI tools to reduce costs and accelerate product development,” says General Manager George Wei. “Moving from standard products to custom-made solutions lets us support different regional needs while preserving precision.”
Data With a Purpose
General Biologicals Corporation (GBC) is anchoring Taiwan’s push into precision health. Its Shell-Bio® platform detects circulating tumor cells (CTCs) for early cancer monitoring. “Ninety percent of cancer-related deaths are caused by circulating tumor cells. Our goal is to give people a powerful tool for early detection and prevention,” says CEO TC Lin.
By generating real-world data through its CLIA-certified lab in San Diego and clinical operations in Taiwan, GBC is building the evidence base that will drive AI-powered oncology.
What Comes Next
The rise of AI in Taiwan’s biotech and medical sectors looks less like disruption and more like steady, practical progress. From radiology reads that miss less, to IVF protocols that are simpler, to smarter machine tools that improve device safety, Taiwan is applying AI with purpose.
As Olivia Tseng sums it up: “It’s human in the loop from start to finish.” Or as George Wei adds from the shop floor: “Good products always have a place.”
【資料出處：Los Angeles Times <Taiwan Special Report>】
The Quiet Revolution: How AI Is Powering Taiwan’s Next Wave of Biotech and Medical Innovation – Los Angeles Times