Lai calls on defense medical university to strengthen battlefield medicine

Taipei, Aug. 19 (CNA) President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on Tuesday said the newly upgraded National Defense Medical University (NDMU) should further enhance its training in battlefield trauma care.

Speaking at a ceremony marking the school's elevation from the National Defense Medical Center, Lai said greater global exchanges will help NDMU specialize in battlefield medicine and trauma care.

International cooperation, he added, will allow the university to learn from other countries' military and medical education systems and apply those lessons to not only support the armed forces but also strengthen society's broader capacity to respond to crises.

Noting that NDMU is Taiwan's only institution with a biosafety level-4 (BSL-4) laboratory, Lai described the university as a crucial asset for infectious disease research and prevention.

The university is uniquely positioned to be tasked with military duties and medical responsibility, Lai said, noting that it must continue to train medical professionals who can serve beyond the military system.

Speaking about the Tri-Service General Hospital in Taipei's Neihu District, the university's teaching hospital, Lai said it "was established not only to serve military personnel but also to safeguard the health of all citizens."

NDMU was officially upgraded on Aug. 1.

According to the Ministry of National Defense, the upgrade is intended to boost the university's competitiveness, faculty training and research, so it can better support Taiwan's military medical development and defense readiness.